Title: Going the second mile
Theme: Showing the importance of taking the extra step.
Text: Matthew 5:41
Listen to this:
A loud commanding voice rang out. Thirteen men looked to their left side to see what all the ruckus was all about. There stood a Roman solider yelling at a young Jewish man," Jew carry my pack one mile." They watched and listened as the Jew pleaded with the solider," but sir I am on my way to work and my business must be opened before the early morning rush. I don’t have time to carry your pack you are going in the opposite direction. The solider drew his sword and repeated his orders," Jew carry my pack." So finally the Jew huffed and puffed and frowned and obeyed his orders. Twelve of the thirteen men who watched the episode were astonished. But Jesus was not.
Just about a decade before Jesus came to this earth the Roman senate had passed a law this law read, "In any conquered province within the Roman Empire, soilders may compel able bodied men to bear their burden one mile, but no more."
I don’t know if this ever happened but it would not surprise me if it did. Especially knowing the disciples and Jesus teaching techniques and especially knowing the scribes and Pharisees.
This is what I would like to focus on today, and that is verse 41, the NIV version reads If some one forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. I want to talk about the second mile. I believe that we as Christians are required to live in the second mile. I want to discuss three things about the second mile and these three are
I. Christianity is a second mile religion
II. Jesus requries us to live in the second mile
III. Are you committed to live in the second mile.
I. Christianity is a second mile religion
First Christianity is a second mile religion. Since the beginning of Gods creation there has been many religions established. And before we die we will see many more established. It seems that there is a religion for everything. One to worship the animals, one to worship the trees even one to worship the fish. But there is one thing that Christianity has that none other has. Christianity is a second mile religion. If you are a Christian you are required to live in the second mile. So what is the second mile. Here are a few examples.
To love ones neighbor is the first mile, to love ones enemy is the second mile.
To bless those who bless you is the first mile, to bless those who curse you is the second mile.
To do good to those who do good to you is the first mile to do good to those who hate you is the second mile.
Praying for those who pray for you is the first mile and praying for those who despitefully use you is the second mile.
The Pharisees lived in the first mile and Christians live in the second mile.
Christianity is the most rigorous, and demanding, religion in the world. It is the hardest religion in the world. But it is also the most rewarding in the world. When you call yourself a Christian it should be like a certain pride but also a certain humbleness to it. Because it is not easy. If it is easy then you are living the wrong life. If it is not demanding then your are living wrong. This is all because it is a second mile religion. It is loving all.
You see in some religions you have to have a certain amount of money or status in this world then you can be a part but Christianity is unique. You can’t be a part of Christianity and a part of another religion. You can be a Hindu and a Buddhist but Christianity is alone. So saying all of this, this is what makes it unique. That is the second mile that Christians take. Going over the
II. Christ lived in the second mile
Second Christ required us to live in the second mile. He did this in two ways. His life and his teaching.
A. His life
First let us look at the life of Christ. What did he do that was living in the second mile. How ’bout eating with Zacchaeus. A known tax collector. A thief in the eyes of the people. This man was hated by the people of the town but he went and ate with him just as he went and ate with the sinners. Now this may not seem to be living in the second mile but these are sometimes people who others don’t care about. These are considered to be the low life’s of society such as the homeless. Jesus talked to these people he dealt with these people. Jesus realized that the ones who are saved already have the gospel and the ones who really needed it is the ones who are lost.
B. His teachings
Second Jesus required us to live in the second mile by the things he taught. Let us look at verse 38-48. He tells us to turn the other cheek. One of the hardest things known to man, not to retaliate. It is always tempting to hit back or get back some way at those who do us dirty but Christ tells us to turn the other cheek.
I have heard the story on James Dobson of a woman who was going to her car one night when a man who had escaped from prison had attacked her. She was very frightened. As he drug her into her car she began to pray. She noticed that this had an affect on him. She noticed that it made him feel real bad so she told him of Jesus, and do you know that that night he became a Christian. He gave his heart to God. This is an amazing story and in no way am I telling you not to fend off an attacker but we must be careful not to fend off the world.
Some people I meet it is like the world is their enemy. They spend most of their time avoiding the world too scared that they will be hurt but Christ promises protection. He tells us to resist not evil we are to love our enemies He says for us to take a chance. To love the world they cannot hurt us but maybe we can help them. We see that Christ says that if someone wants your coat give him your cloak also. Don’t let things that can be replaced hinder your relationship. He is not saying let people take advantage of you but he is saying to build a relationship.
Christ lived in the second mile in his prayer life. Praying until blood ran down his face. We only pray until our knees hurt or people were leaving. Fighting forty-days and nights with Satan. Fasting and being tempted he gave us examples on how to accept diversities. He did this in his giving. Of his whole self to a life devoted to his fathers business and then to die on the cross for underving people such as I. No complaints when he was spit upon or the solders gambled for his clothes.
We can also see the second mile of other great men such as Enoch , who walked with God. Noah who took ridicule to do Gods command. Moses who gave up a life of wealth to follow God. Peter who came back from denying Christ to preaching on the day of Pentecost. To Paul a man living a sacrificial life for the service of God and calling himself the Chief of all sinners. We even see the people of the 15 and 1600s such as John Calvin who went against the Church and Luther who placed the wrongs of the church on the door.
These were all great men who lived in the Second mile. If they had chosen to live in the first mile there would be nothing no commitment no sacrifice.
Now comes the question, are you living in the second mile. Are you willing to commit your life to God and to leap all boundaries to follow God. Are you willing to take the extra step to call your self a second mile Christian. With heads bowed and eyes closed if you are willing to live in the second mile I want you to raise your hands as a commitment unto God. If there are those who would like to come down and recommit their lives to God and make this known these altars are open. I always want to give an altar call before God. As we pray if you need to come down it is open if no one has come down by the end of prayer then I will turn it over to bro. Sawyer.
The second mile commitment is the next level of the relationship.
