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coun·ter·in·tu·i·tive
Adjective: Contrary to intuition or to common-sense expectation.
The more we try to be sensible and follow conventional wisdom, the less like Jesus we are. You may not agree with this. But the evidence is overwhelming that true Christians are “weird” in a good kind of way:
“Love your enemies and be kind and do good [doing favors so that someone derives benefit from them] and lend, expecting and hoping for nothing in return but considering nothing as lost and despairing of no one” (Luke 6:35, AMP).
This is not “normal” by today’s standards.
“If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two [miles]” (Matthew 5:41, AMP).
Really?
“But I say to you, Do not resist the evil man [who injures you]; but if anyone strikes you on the right jaw or cheek, turn to him the other one too” (Matthew 5:39, AMP).
Not too many are willing to follow this. Yet Jesus calls us away from trying to even the score; from trying to overpower our enemies.
“But if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head” (Romans 12:20, AMP).
“Whoever tries to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will preserve and quicken it” (Luke 17:33, AMP).
If you want to live, be willing to die.
Jesus didn’t buy into conventional wisdom. In fact, the gospel flys in the face of logical thinking. If we truly want to be like Jesus and follow his line of reasoning, we need to be OK with being a little weird and counterintuitive.
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