Going Twice the Distance
Today’s Verse:
And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. ~Matthew 5:41
When Jesus spoke these words, the audience had a very firm understanding of the background. In those days, it was not unusual for a Roman centurion to approach a Jewish man, tell him to carry the soldier’s burden for a mile, and then, as the mile had been accomplished, tell that Jewish man, “Now, go another mile for me.” The Jews despised this cruel behavior of the Romans. It was one of the many things that they were expected to do regardless of how they felt about it. Jesus used this picture to ingrain in us the discipline of being an "extra-mile Christian."
There is the meaning.
Jesus is describing "going the extra mile" in whatever we do. It is going beyond what is expected. It is exceeding the expectations given to us. Going the extra mile is the difference between being a winner and being a loser. Going the extra mile is doing what you have been asked to do whether you like it or not. The opportunity to go the extra mile will appear when we least expect to be told to do so.
There is the mandate.
Jesus is giving a series of commands in the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus is not giving a suggestion; Jesus is giving a mandate. Christians should not be the status-quo people of society. Christians should not be mediocre and middle-of-the-road. “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.” We are commanded to burn the midnight oil. We are commanded to stay with our responsibilities and exceed the expectations of our superiors.
There is the ministry.
Going the second mile has many ministry applications. We should go the extra mile in telling the gospel to others. It is good to participate in the organized soulwinning of the church, but we should determine to tell people about the Lord throughout the week. We should go the extra mile in taking care of the facilities of our church. Church facilities take a heavy toll upon usage and require many hands and volunteer hours in order to keep God’s house beautiful. We should go the extra mile in being a blessing to everyone in our church. Everyone in church matters to God and should matter to us. We should go the extra mile in being by the side of those who are grieving and in the valley. We should go the extra mile in our prayer life. Ministry requires that we go the extra mile.
There is the merchandise.
When we go the extra mile, more souls get saved. When we go the extra mile, an enemy could become a friend. When we go the extra mile, we have a great church and not just a good church. When we go the extra mile, the impossible become possible. When we go the extra mile, answered prayer is a norm and not an exception. When we go the extra mile, we are obedient and not disobedient.
Are you a "second-mile Christian?" Are you someone who is willing to go the extra mile even though it presents a hardship? Don’t look at the hardship, but look at the possibilities that God gives us when we go the extra mile!
Have an endurance-filled God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Leviticus 14-15