Houston rapper ,Tobe Nwigwe by way of Nigeria, has taken social media by storm with his new song "Try Jesus". If you haven't seen the video, it's listed below for you. I can't lie... I like the song. I like Tobe Nwigwe as an artist in general. He's a lyrical mastermind and he doesn't quite fit the mold of any other hip-hop artist that I can think of currently. He mentions his wife in his music regularly and he also acknowledges Christ as Lord. That in of itself makes him, and a handful of other artists, in a league of their own.
This past Sunday 7/26/19, I hopped on Facebook and saw the video listed below.
Listen... I hear you Tobe!!!
Just out of knee-jerk reaction, if someone hits me they are liable to get hit back. Plus, mom always said if someone hits you "knock fire out of them". I still don't know how I am to knock fire out of someone but I knew what mom meant. If someone hits you, you hit them back.
The verse Tobe is referring to is found in Matthew 5. I think most people know what it says but basically Jesus said if someone smacks you, you are to turn and offer your other cheek to possibly be smacked too.
Again, listen. I'm not for someone hitting me or anyone I love either. I had to pray about not "laying hands" on someone just this year. And no, not spiritual hands. It had nothing to do with someone physically touching me or anyone else. It had everything to do with what I perceived as disrespect towards someone I love dearly. Like, I honestly had to go to God several times in prayer to soothe my soul.
As I've heard some people say, I was giving off Peter Vibes. Speaking of Peter, can you imagine someone hitting him? Peter, the loving, sold-out disciple of God? No ma'am. No sir. Peter would have most likely hit them back. He might've even cursed as he did it.
So what gives then? God knows by nature most people will not let someone just hit them. Let alone offer the other cheek.
I've said this multiple times but I just don't believe in ironic events anymore. I believe in divine events. I don't believe in coincidences. I believe in intentional circumstances.
I am following a very random bible-study plan. It does not go in any particular order at all. Yet, it just so happened that I read Matthew 5 today. Today is 7/29/2020... a mere 3 days after this video went viral.
So here I am, giving you "A Word" once again. I'll make this brief because I know y'all have short attention spans :-)
Jesus said a lot in Matthew 5. Read it at your leisure. Bare in mind it is always important to look at the entire context of scripture when we read the Word of God. Here's what Jesus said after He said to turn the other cheek:
Matthew 5:43-47 (KJV)
Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
In verse 45, Jesus says he makes the sun to rise on good and evil alike. He sends rain on the just and the unjust. Since we are the children of God and created in His image, we must mimic Him in our actions. This includes being merciful towards those who are just or unjust towards us. We tend to refer to being God-like only when its convenient for us.
We like to gloat about being children of the Most-High God when it glorifies our positioning. People quote recording artist, Erykah Badu's lyrics "if we are made in His image then call us by our name" only when we want to establish superiority. Basically, we consider ourselves God-like only when we want to stroke our egos and take on the title of mini gods and goddesses.
Yet, to be truly God-like, we must attempt to imitate God in everything we do... which includes turning the other cheek. Now, I don't have a degree in Theology but when Jesus said turn the other cheek, I think it's safe to say He was speaking of our spiritual cheek.
Everything is always spiritual when it comes to living according to God's Will. He says to pray for those who use us. Praying is a spiritual act. He says to love our enemies. Loving is a spiritual act. He says to bless those who curse us. Blessing is a... you guessed it! It's all spiritual.
When you keep reading past the "turn the other cheek" verse, it is evident that Christ merely wants you to avoid harboring ill-will towards others... even if they wrong you. You can't thrive as a God-like person with vengeful feelings in your heart. You can't pray, love, or bless anyone who you hate or want to get even with.
You see, we can't claim to be God-like without taking on all the characteristics of God. God isn't vengeful towards us. Regardless of the many, many sins we commit, He keeps on forgiving us. How many times have we slapped God in His face with our wrong-doing? How many times has He kept on extending His grace towards us regardless of our disrespectful slaps? Too many times to count, huh?
So, yes I get it. Again, I hear you Tobe! It is understandable if you don't want anyone pushing or slapping you around. But to be God-like, you have to spiritually turn the other cheek. Being God-like isn't always easy. But it's surely worth it. So, before we say "I'm God-like... but don't push me" we should just say "I'm God-like"... no buts needed.
That's all folks! Be blessed!
And while you're at it, try Jesus like Tobe suggested... I think you'll like what you find.
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