ODB: Upside Down
January 27, 2011
What may seem upside down to us is right side up to God.
READ: Matthew 5:38-48
You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” But I say to you, love your enemies. —Matthew 5:43-44
If you were to ask me who I am, I’d tell you that I’m a follower of Jesus. But I have to admit, at times following Him is a real challenge. He tells me to do things like rejoice when I’m persecuted (Matt. 5:11-12); to turn the other cheek (vv.38-39); to give to someone who wants to take from me (vv.40-42); to love my enemies, bless those who curse me, and do good to those who hate me (vv.43-44). This kind of lifestyle seems very upside down to me.
But I’ve come to realize that He’s not upside down—I am. We have all been born fallen and broken. Being twisted by sin, our first instincts are often wrong, which inevitably leaves a big mess.
We’re like toast slathered with jelly that has fallen upside down on the kitchen floor. Left to ourselves, we can make a pretty big mess of things. Then Jesus comes along, like a divine spatula, scrapes us off the floor of our sinful ways, and turns us right side up. And as we follow His right-side-up ways, we discover that turning the other cheek keeps us from getting caught in a brawl, that it is more blessed to give than to receive, and that dying to self is life at its best.
After all, His ways are not our ways (Isa. 55:8), and I’ve come to realize that His ways are always best!
— Joe Stowell
Source: Our Daily Bread
Tweet This
Share on Facebook
Digg This
Save to delicious
Stumble it-
RSS Feed
Related
ODJ: Tweaked
April 4, 2012 I, the Lord, speak only what is true and declare only what is right (Isaiah 45:19). READ: Genesis 12:10-20 One web based company creates and sells personalised lies. For a fee, this company helps job seekers create phony references for résumés, and then provides telephone operators to verify the bogus information. While [...]
legacy
July 16, 2009 We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord (Psalm 78:4). READ: Deuteronomy 4:1-9 Most parents want a better life for their children. Often, those who are financially able will leave their children a sizable inheritance—hoping that an extra cushion [...]
ODB: Who You’re Meant To Be
May 1, 2012 READ: Romans 12:1-2,9-18 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice. —Romans 12:1 “Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire.” Quoting those words of St. Catherine of Siena, the Bishop of London began his [...]
ODJ: sacred things
December 16, 2011 How can light live with darkness? (2 Corinthians 6:14). READ: Daniel 5:1-30 Lumberjack Ron Fahey got into trouble for removing some logs he intended to use as firewood. The de-branched specimens had been lying in a woodpile on the campus of a University. Fahey had been given permission to take logs found [...]
Christian Courses
Day Of Discovery
Discover The Word
Discovery Series
Help For My Life
My Utmost For His Highest
Our Daily Bread
Our Daily Journey
RBC Ministries
WarungSateKaMu
Manasociety
雅米