Extra Mile

Posted in Thank You! on March 31st, 2008 by Administrator| | .

“You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury. ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also. If you are sued in court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat too. If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles. Give to those who ask, and don’t turn away from those who want to borrow.” Matt. 5 38-42 (NLT)

When Christ said these words, Palestine had been occupied by Rome for more than 100 hundred years. The Romans had learned from the Persians to use people to their advantage. Romans would often require the Jewish people to carry their burdens. The Jews were required by law to carry the load for one mile. The Jewish people hated this law and their heads turned when Jesus said you need to carry their weapons for not just one mile, but two miles.

Jesus was teaching his people to do more than just the minimum. I am constantly getting on my oldest son Todd to do more than just what is required. The late Pastor Adrian Rogers in his series “Digging Deeper” talks about the advantages of the extra mile.

1) It will change your attitude.

    The first mile is the slave mile. You are required to go the first mile and you hate every step along the way. The second mile is the smile mile. You are doing it out of love. The first mile you are being controlled but the second mile you are in charge. The first mile you’re doing it because you have to, but the second mile because you want to. On the second mile your attitude changes from conquered to conquering.

    2) Living out this command will make you a success.

      All successful people participate in the second mile. The reason some Christians aren’t successful in their devotions is because they are “first milers.” They only do the minimum and their hearts are not into it. The people who develop their spiritual lives go the extra mile.

      3) The extra mile is the key to better relationships.

        Imagine if you are a first-century Christian, and you are commanded by a Roman soldier to carry his spear and heavy backpack. You gladly carry the backpack and spear not for one mile but for two. The soldier is stunned, and by going the extra mile you completely alter the relationship. An opportunity to share Jesus comes because of the extra effort.

        “You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Phil. 2:5

        Jesus went the extra mile for us when he paid for our sins on the cross. If we are to become like Jesus then we need to go the extra mile for others. At NorthStar we go the extra mile to serve our community. We want to change the attitude of our community by serving them and opening up opportunities to share the good news of Jesus Christ.

        We have a lot of on the community calendar in April, and it is going to take a lot of us to go the extra mile to meet all the needs. April 19-20 is the Big Shanty Festival. Over 60,000 people are expected to attend this year’s festival. We need extra milers to help with the parade, hospitality for the vendors, work in the hospitality booth, and help clean up after the festival. On April 26 we are going to help with Phase I of building the special needs playground, and at the end of the month we have Teacher Appreciation Week that is going to require extra milers to get up early and deliver over 1400 cinnamon rolls to nine elementary schools.

        My prayer is that you experience the power of going the extra mile as you help NorthStar serve this community to Jesus Christ.

        Marlon

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