"no paybacks"

I spend most weekend nights at my part-time job serving (at a restaurant). It is an interesting environment. I'm definitely "in the world but not of it". It has given me the opportunity this year to really grapple with what it means to be a Christ follower and really love people. I know I stand out there as different. Sometimes I take some heat for that. Especially when crude jokes don't make me laugh or I walk away. The comments like "prude" remind me of high school. People that can't handle someone being different than them so they resort to name-calling. I'm mature enough to rise above that now but what do I do with it? Do I smart off right back? Believe me, I'm really good at that. I wouldn't miss a beat. Sarcasm is in my genes. That's the easy road. The even easier road is to leave the environment. Find a new job where I don't have to deal with it, run away and hide in nice loving environments and only "love" my friends, those who love and understand me. The fact is, God calls us to much more than that. He calls us to be his hands and feet. How? I look to Christ, he gave his life for a bunch of sinners who called him names and much worse.
It just so happened that I had a difficult evening at work last Saturday. Difficult in the sense of dealing with some unkind comments. I went to church with my family on Sunday and the title of the sermon was "No paybacks in the Kingdom" based on Matthew 5:38-48. In verse 39 Jesus own words are "Do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also." In those days it was an insult to slap someone. I've been insulted, I'm just supposed to take it and offer my other cheek. Not only that in verses 43-44 Jesus says, "You have heard that it was said, "You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' "But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.." Honestly, I cannot do this on my own. But through Christ I find the ability to love those who I feel at times hate me, for no real reason, except that they see Christ in me. I ask God to go with me each and every time I go to work. He always meets me there. Maybe in someone with a kind word, maybe through my customers who are friendly and tip well, but I always make it through. I'm bringing a light into a place that is dark and for the most part hopeless. Believe me, most of my co-workers will not step foot in a church. I must be the church to them. I'm called to love them and minister to them, not judge them. No Paybacks.