Luke 6:27-36
27 "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you. 32 "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even `sinners' love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even `sinners' do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even `sinners' lend to `sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.  When Jesus told his followers, "if someone strikes you on the cheek, turn to him the other also," he wasn't telling us not to defend ourselves. Instead, he was urging us to live our lives under God's control.
Our natural reaction to an attack is to strike back when struck. However, when we react and angrily strike back at someone, we're allowing that person to control us. Jesus here explains that men who live under God's control hold that natural impulse in check. They respond gently and rationally when treated abrasively. In a nutshell, they treat others as they want to be treated.
Make it a personal goal to obey the lord this week. Instead of lashing out at those who wrong you and falling under their control, seek God's control in handling the situation positively and constructively.
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