Alan Fong
3 min read
Alan Fong
3 min read
Alan Fong
3 min read
The Second Mile
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 and tell him to carry the soldier’s burden for a mile, and then, as the mile had been accomplished, to 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 a second-mile Christian.
There is the meaning.
Jesus is describing going the second mile in whatever we do. It is going beyond what is expected. It is exceeding the expectations given to us. Going the second mile is the difference between being a winner and being a loser. Going the second mile is doing what you have been asked to do whether you like it or not. Going the second mile will occur 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 and directive. Christians should not be status-quo people of society. Christians should not be mediocre and end at the 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 second mile in telling the gospel to others. It is good to participate in the organized soulwinning of the church, but we should be determined to tell people about the Lord throughout the week. We should go the second mile in taking care of the facilities of our church. Church facilities take a heavy toll on usage and require many hands and volunteer hours in order to keep God’s house beautiful. We should go the second 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 second mile being at the side of those who are grieving and in the valley. We should go the second mile in our prayer lives. Ministry requires that we go the second mile.
There is the merchandise.
When we go the second mile, more souls get saved! When we go the second mile, an enemy could become a friend! When we go the second mile, we have a great church and not just a good church! When we go the second mile, the impossible becomes possible! When we go the second mile, answered prayer is a norm and not an exception! When we go the second mile, we are obedient and not disobedient.
Are you a second-mile Christian? Are you someone 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 second mile!
Have an endurance-filled God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Numbers 18-20
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