Has anyone ever stolen your lunch at work? It happens, even at church! Our first instinct is usually to get even. That’s how the world teaches us to respond. To retaliate, keep score, balance it out. But Jesus takes that thinking and flips it completely. He says, “Don’t get even. Get better.”

In Matthew 5, Jesus moves beyond the old “eye for an eye” rule. He says, “Turn the other cheek. Go the extra mile. Give to the one who asks.” He is inviting us to live differently. Why? Because revenge keeps us tied to the offense. You think you’re throwing the stone, but you’re still the one carrying all that weight. Bitterness and anger grow heavy, and they never bring peace.

Choosing to get better means dropping that weight. It means responding with forgiveness instead of resentment, with generosity instead of revenge, and with patience instead of payback.

Jesus is not calling us to be weak or passive. He is calling us to something stronger and better. When someone wrongs you, don't match their behavior. Surprise them with grace. Someone steals your lunch? Bring them lunch the next day with a note that says, “Sharing is caring.”

Now imagine what could happen if Catalyst Baptist Church lived like this. If our families practiced forgiveness, if our workplaces overflowed with kindness, if our neighborhoods became places of peace and generosity. When Catalyst gets better, the world around us becomes better too.

So here is the challenge. This week, choose one situation where you would usually want to get even. Instead, choose to get better. Forgive. Help. Go further than expected.

Not just because it’s nice. Do it because it’s the way of Jesus.

When we get better, Catalyst gets better.
When Catalyst gets better, the world gets better.