I will like to share something the Lord revealed to me recently out of a familiar passage in the New Testament, the Lord’s Sermon on the Mount. The Sermon reeled off a number of injunctions that you and I will likely consider impossible to adhere to. You have probably read or skimmed through some of these, recorded in the synoptic Gospels. Let us keep our finger in the version in Luke Chapter 6. What He is asking of us will be troubling to most, particularly if you are a new believer. Many who bumped into the passage may immediately leaf it over, believing it must be one of those things He said but didn’t seriously expect us to do, or gave leverage to do, if we can. You will remember that, even the 12 disciples had cause to raise an alarm at a certain stage. One actually said, “Who then can be saved?” To which He replied: “With men, it is impossible. But with God, all things are possible.”.
What does this mean? Was the Lord saying our salvation and redemption are entirely up to God and does not require our input or effort? Why are we given such a height to scale that we are stupefied, looking up in complete amazement?
Let’s take a look at some of those commandments.
“But I say unto you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you.
“Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
“And unto him that smite you on the right cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also.” (Luke 6:27-29)
Looking up with giddy eyes at what the Lord is saying here, l am wondering if any of such are practicable? In all probability, I may have served the unprovoked assailant a slap so hard the moment he dared to slap me before remembering the words of the good Lord! Then, afterwards, become genuinely sober or contrite! But to pray?! Bear in mind that I am still enraged, seeking justice in the name of all that is good!
But the sermon was not quite done yet!
“Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom.” Verse 38.
This verse reminds of Eccle. 11.1 which says to “Cast your bread upon the waters, and you shall find it after many days.” No, if I commit my freshly baked, hot loaf, into the river, it dissolves. It is gone. I will never find it again! That is what my mind tells me. And that is what natural and empirical senses tell my mind. But why does God say differently? He created the natural order in the first place, so why point in the opposite direction?
As the revival of the church starts to fade, we will become more and more rebellious, resistant to the guidance of the Spirit of God. We will be given to relying on our natural tendencies.
When I give, men will take. Most will not even look back, except there is more to take. Men will not give good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over. But that is exactly the point. Whereas men can be expected to be ungrateful, God is saying He will make men do it!
Where you sow is rarely where you will reap. The part of the river where you cast your bread is not where you will find it. And moreover, it will come after many days! The Lord Himself will store it up for your future, according to the measure you have sown. Total strangers will bestow favours and you will be wondering how? You will find help in strange places and distant lands.
The foundation for doing what the Lord says is having faith towards God. He that comes to Him must believe that He is. That is, He is real. This is where godly fellowship really helps, as you compare notes with those who struggled initially to do as the Lord said and found the aftermath staring from everywhere. They sowed in tears, which could mean the first step was with great difficulty. And they found joy in the end. Sometimes, after many days.
We come to what the Lord told me. “You can’t do it without me. Without my help.
” I will help you to do what seems difficult. But you must rest on me completely. You have to depend on me. You can’t do it by yourself. By learning to draw strength out of me, you will also be able to face whatever life throws your way. It is hopeless to try to do it yourself, your way. It is hopeless to try to cope with pain, loss, sorrow and disappointment in your own self.”