sharing a birthday present

It is always interesting to me...how GOD "makes things happen" My past pastor gave me a book some years ago it was titled "MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST" I have this book under my desk at work. I take it out some mornings before I start to work. I took it out on my birthday this week and now I share with you what I consider to be a BIRTHDAY PRESENT from the dear Captain God Bless you Sir. July 14, 2009 Suffering Afflictions and Going the Second Mile I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also —Matthew 5:39 This verse reveals the humiliation of being a Christian. In the natural realm, if a person does not hit back, it is because he is a coward. But in the spiritual realm, it is the very evidence of the Son of God in him if he does not hit back. When you are insulted, you must not only not resent it, but you must make it an opportunity to exhibit the Son of God in your life. And you cannot imitate the nature of Jesus— it is either in you or it is not. A personal insult becomes an opportunity for a saint to reveal the incredible sweetness of the Lord Jesus. The teaching of the Sermon on the Mount is not, "Do your duty," but is, in effect, "Do what is not your duty." It is not your duty to go the second mile, or to turn the other cheek, but Jesus said that if we are His disciples, we will always do these things. We will not say, "Oh well, I just can't do any more, and I've been so misrepresented and misunderstood." Every time I insist on having my own rights, I hurt the Son of God, while in fact I can prevent Jesus from being hurt if I will take the blow myself. That is the real meaning of filling "up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ . . ." ( Colossians 1:24 ). A disciple realizes that it is his Lord's honor that is at stake in his life, not his own honor. Never look for righteousness in the other person, but never cease to be righteous yourself. We are always looking for justice, yet the essence of the teaching of the Sermon on the Mount is— Never look for justice, but never cease to give it. POSTSCRIPT I took it over to the person in the next cubicle. ..the next thing I know she is mouthing excitedly in spanish on her cell phone....to her mother...she then comes over to my cubicle and makes a photocopy of the page for her mom. goes back to her desk..continues the conversation....is asking the mom if she has a bible to find the passage.... Folks....I should not be talking because I am not always "witnessing" but I promise you.....the world will change when you and I change it by obedience to our Leader Jesus of Nazareth...He said we have power and we must be witnesses....a witness tells what he knows.....maybe we don't know a lot...but we MUST tell what we know......as my old friend billy used to say.... DON'T just 'keep the faith' SHARE IT!!!!! when I do my part God does the rest. thank you Captain Greg