Going The Extra Mile In 2010
When reading the Bible you will find a wealth of amazing life lessons. All of which, I believe, were presented to us to help us live an amazing life.
The definition of amazing when used as an adjective describing something is; “to cause wonder and astonishment, surprising greatly, inspiring awe or wonder and impressive.” When used as a verb amazing means; “to affect with great wonder, to astonish, and to bewilder and perplex.”
Now I believe that many of us can think of something in the Bible that fits one of these descriptions. What we need to realize that God can and will change any and all obstacles and failures into an amazing testimony of His love, power and grace.
I want to share for a few minutes on one of the amazing life statements that Christ made. It is a story you have heard repeated many times if you have been in church very long. If you are new to Christ listen carefully at the heart of God as we look into the life that Christ would have us live.
The title of my message today is; When the 2nd mile becomes 2nd nature.
Before I read the passage let me define the phrase 2nd nature, and remember it as we go along. It is (an acquired habit or tendency in one’s character that is so deeply ingrained as to appear automatic.)
Matthew 5:41 KJV
And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
Amplified
And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two [miles].
Now let me share a little of the history of this verse. The Jews were under the rule of the Romans at this time. Under Roman law a soldier could order someone on the road to carry his burden for one mile. It may have consisted of his shield, extra clothing or provision of some sort. This was something that could be related to. Christ said when this happens don’t just carry it one mile. Carry it for two.
Now what He was teaching them was not only a relevant testimony at the time, but an amazing life lesson that would transfer from generation to generation until the present.
He was teaching us that to excel in life and in our relationship with God we must go beyond doing just what is expected.
Now we need to apply this to our lives and then ask the question. Do I only do what is expected, or do I go the extra mile?
This is not the only scripture in this message that Christ was giving that directed us to give or do more than just what is expected. Let’s read them all.
Matthew 5:39-44 KJV
But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. 41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. 42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. 43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
So what is up with all this stuff? Why do we have to be the ones who give in and humble ourselves.
God is trying to create in us an amazing life. Christ spoke to the three areas of our lives that we have the most trouble with.
Our flesh. Let someone hit me and take it. I don’t think so. Love my enemies. You have got to be kidding.
Our stuff. Boy do some of us love our stuff. I may have to give him my shirt but not my coat. I will pay my tithes or maybe just what I can spare. But that is it. It’s my stuff.
Our time. Carry your load, pray for you; I barely have time to take care of my own problems and pray for my own needs.
Ouch
It never feels good when we take a long look at ourselves and find that just possibly we still may need just a little work.
These three sacrifices have always been a problem so why did Christ make us have to deal with them in such a specific way.
Christ is trying to get us to look further than the expected and sow seeds to harvest the unexpected. He is trying to show us that our nature, with its limitations, doubts, and fears does not have to have the final word in our lives.
There is something greater, something bigger, something joyous, something Amazing when we go the 2nd mile and that 2nd mile mentality becomes our nature.
Before I leave these passages I have to read them with a couple more from the Message Bible.
Read along and enjoy.
Matthew 5:38-48 Message
“Here’s another old saying that deserves a second look: ‘Eye for eye, tooth for tooth.’ Is that going to get us anywhere? Here’s what I propose: ‘Don’t hit back at all.’ If someone strikes you, stand there and take it. If someone drags you into court and sues for the shirt off your back, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it. And if someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously.
“You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.”In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.”
We have to understand that Christ came to bring us redemption but that redemption had a greater vision than we recognize at times. Redemption brings us into a personal relationship with the Father. We now have been equipped with the necessary tools to be like Him.
His life will only come to be our life when we allow Him to live through us. This is what the passages I have read are all about. Changing us and our thoughts to His thoughts. Not worrying if I am doing more than someone else or if someone has got the best of me.
A statement I pray you never get tired of hearing; It is not about me, it is all about Him.
It is not about my pride, my stuff, or my time. It is about giving ourselves, our stuff, and our time to God and giving it in measure that is more than required. This is when we will know our heart is becoming like His and the results of going the 2nd mile will be a 2nd nature that is like Christ.
Peter said it this way.
I Peter 4:1-2 KJV
Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.
Message
Since Jesus went through everything you’re going through and more, learn to think like him. Think of your sufferings as a weaning from that old sinful habit of always expecting to get your own way. Then you’ll be able to live out your days free to pursue what God wants instead of being tyrannized by what you want.
Maybe you need to reach way down inside today and give a little more of your self. Holding on to the things you like when God is asking you to let some go can only keep your life in turmoil. Fighting within over doing just what is necessary or reaching higher, thinking larger, and giving greater.
Pastor Marvin
Tags: Amazing, Amazing Life, Second nature
