Read: Matthew 5:38-45

If anyone wants to sue you
and take away your tunic,
let him have your cloak
also. -Matthew 5:40

At first the man was annoyed. But he became angry as groups of teenagers without costumes kept coming to his door shouting, "Trick or treat!"

"I'm not going to put up with this!" he announced to his wife. "If any more older kids without costumes show up tonight, they're not getting anything from me. And if they don't move on, I'll call the police."

As he talked, his face became red and his breathing rapid. His wife looked at him with a curious gaze and said, "George, it's only candy."

I've often pondered those three words: "It's only candy." That put the issue in perspective. How easily we become agitated over our rights, our property, and our preferences, only to be reminded that we have allowed something inconsequential to consume us.

The words of Jesus sound so strange to us: "If anyone wants to sue and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two" (Mt. 5:40-41). The Lord wants us to respond to our circumstances in ways that reflect our trust in Him and our commitment to heaven's values.

So much of our anger could be avoided if we would only pause and say, "You're right, Lord. It's only candy." -David C. McCasland

Thinking It Over
Am I ever tempted to take justice into my own hands?
What do these verses from Proverbs say about anger?
Proverbs 15:1; 16:32; 19:11; 29:22

ALWAYS KEEP A COOL HEAD AND A WARM HEART.

OUR DAILY BREAD, Copyright 1998 by Radio Bible Class, Grand Rapids,Michigan. Used by permission.