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Divine Imperatives September 18 Devotional

by David Joynt on September 18, 2023


MATTHEW 5:39a | 39a But I say to you: Do not resist an evildoer.

What is the scope of this command to non-resistance in the face of evil? The entire political realm is founded on coercion, specifically the restraint of evil doers in defense of citizens. The purpose of   politics is, at a minimum, the restraint of evil, and at a maximum, the promotion of good. Jesus here, does not abrogate the defense of victims by governments—He supersedes this for disciples. If governments don’t restrain violent and criminal behavior, chaos rules. If they don’t do so proportionately, once again, chaos ensues. Jesus insists that disciples resist evil in non-coercive and non-violent ways, making surprising and creative responses that disrupt the tit for tat nature of reciprocal responses.

 

How hard is this command for you?

 

 

Gracious God,

When I am offended or hurt, let me be creative and kind in my responses. Help me to see everyone as an object of Your love and care.

Amen.

 

About the Author
David Joynt

Dave Joynt began his service as a pastor at Valley Presbyterian Church in Paradise Valley, Arizona in September 2014. This meant a move away from the Northeast, where he has a long history, growing up in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and then serving congregations in Delaware and New Jersey for a total of 23 years.

Dave was nurtured in a great church in Bethlehem where his parents, Anne and Carey, served as elders. He graduated in classics from Lehigh University where his Father taught, and then from Oxford, where he met his wife Julia. Ordained in 1988, he completed a Ph.D. from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1993.

He and Julia have a son, Tristan, and a daughter, Madeleine.

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