"If anyone forces you to go one mile,
go with him two miles."
- Matthew 5:41
Roman soldiers had the legal right to force someone to carry their heavy backpacks for one mile. If you were told to do it, you had no choice--no excuses about bad backs or already being late to pick up a child from school. It was a tough time to be a citizen in a country occupied by Rome.
However, there was a condition placed upon the soldier. He could not require you to carry the pack a step further. In fact, he could get in deep trouble if he was found forcing you to carry it further than one mile. That's what makes Jesus' familiar words about going the extra mile so intriguing.
The first mile would be required.
The second would be offered freely.
The first mile would be servitude.
The second would be service.
Willing service to others changes things. For the one carrying the pack for the first mile, the power was all in the hands of the soldier; but, with the first step beyond that, the power shifts. Servanthood now transforms the entire situation. Even the relationship changes.
Kingdom power is given by God to those who choose to serve, and He uses that power to change lives. Where are the opportunities in your life to go the extra mile?
Think about it.
See you Sunday.
Terrell
