ATTITUDES OF BELIEVERS

Jesus touched on five specific behaviors he is expecting from Christians. Every Christian must Endeavour to manifest these behaviors. Therein lays the secret of eternity.

      a)     Love: love is the identity of Christians. Christians are to love everyone, including their enemies. When people hate you and level out wicked treatment against you, the natural thing to do is to retaliate, but Christ says we should not retaliate.

        b)     Do good: Christ says, “Do good to those who hate you”. Do you understand the depths of this statement? Think of those people who plan and execute some wicked actions against you; think of those who destroy your name and paint you black; think of those who may have attempted to kill you. Christ says you should do good to them, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.” (Rom 12:20).

      c)     Bless people: “bless those who curse you”. When someone uses a profane language against you, Christ says you should not rail back at the person. Your mouth is meant for blessing and not for cursing, “do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit blessing” (1 peter 3:9).

        d)    Pray for others: “pray for those who mistreat you”. When he was being stoned to death, Stephen prayed for his persecutors (Acts 7:60). We can also do likewise to those persecuting us.

       e)     Offer the other cheek: if someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also.” This doesn’t mean that you physically turn your other cheek to those who slap you on one cheek. It emphasizes the fact that you are not to retaliate, “do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody (Rom 12:17)