aLIVE 🎧 LL78 “Slapped Again“

This living lesson is entitled “Slapped Again.”  I think we've all heard it as one of the Beatitudes, you remember about turning the other cheek” but what I came to realize and what I’d love for you to stop and ponder (which the Bible refers to as Selah), to be slapped a second time you have to stand close enough to the person or the situation, where you got slapped in the first time. 

This is what our Savior said, “But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.” Matthew 5:40–42. 

When everything in us wants to pull back, run—just run away from that person and put up walls to protect yourself—especially now when everybody talks about boundaries and that sort of thing. (For the record, I don't believe in putting up boundaries. However, I don't believe He asks us to go out of our way to run after anyone who has been unkind or cruel, someone whom we should let go of either.)

Nevertheless, putting up boundaries, well, they’re just never going to work. As a matter of fact, what you find is that you are the one who’s put yourself in prison. And, even legally (because I like watching shows on the law and how many), at least in the United States, when people take out a protective order, the legal boundaries, not only does it do nothing. Far worse, for those intent on hurting, it increases the anger and rage, so it far too often results in the person being hurt or even murdered. 

Here’s the honest truth—I would not trust anything or anyone other than my Husband, my Maker, Whose name is the Lord of Host. The Lord of hosts, by the way, means He, your Husband, has an army of angels to protect you. That means, as His bride, I know He and His army are continually protecting me. So I can rest easy because I know He’s the only one who’s there 24/7 and He's the only one who can surround me with favor and has faithfully done so.

And even when I've come very close to danger, and the enemy, later on, wants to say, “Oh my gosh, look how close you came to this happening!!” Well, that is the point, isn’t it?  The danger came very close, yet He protected me! And the few times that I have been harmed by something, He always planned to use it for good. That is just the way that God created the universe, and the only way that you can live an Abundant Life is when you know His promises and then live them by—looking for the good.

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for GOOD to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28. Now take a moment to read this one, too, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.” Genesis 50:20 Fantastic, isn’t it?

Now, coming back to being slapped again, this is the key objective that you have to picture in your mind. You have to stand close enough. Yes, you want to run. You want to at least take a step back. But, if you want to see God work and live the Beatitudes, if you step back, when they swing, they're not gonna hit you, or you're going to be ready to duck. But He said, “Turn the other cheek,” meaning let yourself be slapped not just once, but twice, maybe more.

We also know this principle was not just taken out of context because He gives us more than one example with the same meaning, like when He talks about going the extra mile and then if somebody wants to take your shirt. He says very clearly, don't just allow them to take it—He goes on to say give him both your shirt and your cloak. That means you have nothing, no warmth, and you have no protection. Give, yes, but go above and beyond.

What happens when we do that? What else can happen—we are set to get His blessings. 

“Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you in return.” Luke 6:38

People can try to do things to us, but ultimately, the blessing and protection all come from Him. And I wholeheartedly believe that. My proof is that He says, “My God shall supply all your needs according to His riches,” riches, meaning look at all He has. He owns everything!

He has all the power, so why tap into anything less than everything? Not only do I believe you deserve the best, but I also know that my Husband says you deserve the best. No matter what, I'm not going to settle for anything less, not an imitation or less than the best. Why? Why live anything but an abundant life? Because my goodness, He died to give that to us and our lives are designed to reflect His goodness so others will want what you have, they will want to know Who you know!

So, rather than putting up walls or trying to protect yourself, instead of pulling back, maybe move in closer, maybe come in for a hug. 

I've even seen the results of either an actual hug or a proverbial one. For example, when children are struggling, rather than disciplining them, I find there are times when hugging them, holding them tight, and whispering kindly and lovingly into their ear works almost supernaturally. You’ll find it’s what they need, what you need, and what works almost supernaturally.

Even though you don’t actually step forward and give someone a hug, it can be done in so many ways. Just five minutes ago, I was able to give a hug to a sibling who’d not just ghosted me on my birthday (after I had blessed this particular sibling with a huge gift and enormous fanfare on their birthday), but she rejected a call and ignored several attempts to connect. I’d given all of it to my Husband, who had blessed me beyond my dreams. If my cup is overflowing, why focus on a source who can’t or chooses not to give?  

Right in the middle of editing and proofreading this podcast transcript, I realized after the fact that He’d given me the opportunity to take one slap after another when she ignored each attempt to reach her, then today give them a hug—the person who’d slapped me. I got a text, a very humble text explaining and asking to Facetime later in the week. I said, “I love you too,” and was looking forward to the day suggested.

Another similar principle is when He says that instead of doing evil for evil or insult for insult, give a blessing instead. That’s kind of like an emotional hug or a caring hug, even turning the other cheek and walking the extra mile.

These principles, promises full of Abundant Life Living, are no longer spoken about in the church. Instead, they are spoken against as the ways of the world, and the evil intent of psychology that is anti-God continues to take over. Because things of the flesh are easy to do and feel good when you do them, but afterward, they destroy the spirit and are undeniably destructive to our emotions, they’re adopted as truth.

It’s only things that need His help to do that go against our flesh that feed and nourish our spirit. They repair damage we’ve done to ourselves due to sin and also sins done to us. And when we who’ve lived these phenomenal principles speak about them, these same Christians and leaders of the church are very often not just a little put off but will actively attempt to oust, drive out, purge you from their church and will continue to discredit you. Yet, it’s not me (or you) who is saying this. Nor are you the one who’s able to live this lesson. “Apart from Me, you, we, can do nothing,” as we learned only a couple of living lessons ago.

Therefore, if we can do nothing apart from Him, it also means being connected to Him, doing whatever He asks, tapping into and using His power. If you and I need His grace to do it, because if you're doing it in the flesh and it's easy to do, then with Him, as He says over and over again, we can, because He can, do the impossible!

And looking at them, Jesus said to them, “With people, this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26

Looking at them, Jesus said, “With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.” Mark 10:27

“For nothing will be impossible with God.” Luke 1:37

But He said, “The things that are impossible with people are possible with God.” Luke 18:27

Therefore, those things that are harder to do are going to bring about the greatest blessings, the greatest fruits, and the best testimonies to really help those who are going through something similar and many times much worse, but you will be able to make way for them to follow your path of traveling life with their Husband.