The thought was so good I wondered if we might expand it this morning.
It is possible to drive as if Jesus Christ were in the car in front of us.
It is possible to call a company we had a beef with as if Jesus Christ were going to answer the phone.
It is possible to greet the cashier as if he were Jesus Christ, or to stand behind a slow customer in the line as if that customer were him as well.
It is possible to speak to the waiter in a restaurant as if he were Jesus Christ, even if we need to return an unacceptable dish.
It is possible to speak to a neighbor whose dog woke us up in the night as if he were Jesus Christ.
I believe you could add a few yourself from your own experience. The Lord is at hand, Paul tells us in Phil 4:5, which means he is always within arm's reach any time you have any of those situations listed above happen to you. And isn't it interesting that the first half of that particular verse is, Let your forbearance be known to all men. "Forbearance" means reasonableness, moderation, graciousness, gentleness. And truly isn't that what we want the Lord to see in us in all those situations? If not, why do we even bother to call ourselves his disciples and wear his name?
But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect (Matt 5:39-48).
Dene Ward