Confidence God Is Able

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus commanded His disciples to show humility and grace rather than demanding retribution under the Law of Moses.  In the Law, God commanded legal retribution ought not to exceed the offence, like an eye for an eye or a tooth for a tooth.  Rather than retaliating for wrongs suffered, Jesus bid His followers to do good instead.  He said in Matthew 5:40-41, "If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. ⁴¹ And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two."  The Romans oppressed the Jews as second-class citizens, forcing them to carry burdens for up to a mile.  Jesus directed His disciples to go beyond what was required by faith and obedience to Him.

A disciple is not greater than his master, and because Jesus is our Master we ought to follow His example and walk in His steps.  One attribute of God is He lovingly does far more than we could ask or imagine as it is written in Ephesians 3:20-21:  "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, ²¹ to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen."  God is not only able, but He delights to do glorious things on our behalf continually.  Nowhere did the Law of Moses make a provision or a promise God's people could be filled with the fullness of God and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, yet Jesus through the Gospel revealed this reality.  How awesome is God and His wondrous ways!

Philemon is an example of someone who obeyed the command of Jesus to "go the extra mile."  After his slave Onesimus ran away, Paul shared Christ with him and he became a born again Christian.  Paul sent Philemon a letter asking him to receive Onesimus back as he would as if he was a welcome guest like Paul himself, now a fellow brother in Christ.  Under Roman Law Philemon had the legal right to brutally punish, torture, sexually exploit or even kill a runaway slave.  Paul politely wrote to Philemon, not because he was afraid Philemon would treat Onesimus poorly, but because he was confident Philemon would walk in obedience to Christ and do good.  Philemon 1:21 says, "Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say."  Confidence in the godly character of Philemon, Paul made his request to receive Onesimus known.

Do you appreciate God does exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think?  Only a fool would not!  Those who love, fear God, and place their confidence in Him ought to seek Him in prayer and make our requests known to Him.  Even when our prayers are short-sighted and limited in scope, God is faithful to go beyond what we ask because He is gracious, merciful and good.  As children of God and servants of our glorious Saviour, let us be those who happily go extra miles (without keeping tabs of other's wrongs or our "rights") as He leads and strengthens us to take the next step.  Our confidence that God does above all we ask or think moves us to pray more rather than less.