Second mile service

If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Matthew 5:41

It's much easier to help someone I like than to help someone I don’t like. If I enjoy a person’s company it is a joy to listen to their dreams or offer them advice about a difficult decision they face. Sadly, some days we only want to serve someone who one day might remember our good deed and offer to serve us in return. This inner struggle over the true intent of motives to help another are purified when we do more than is expected without expecting anything in return. An attitude that exceeds expectations is fulfilled by its second mile service.

Jesus illustrates this concept of second mile service. He instructs His disciples to carry the load of another twice as far as expected, even if you loathe them. In this instance it was the despised Roman soldier who had the legal right to indiscriminately demand a citizen carry their weighted back pack for a mile. Even if the unsuspecting individual was travelingin the opposite direction, they could be enlisted on the spot to assist the soldier. The second mile service Jesus describes takes selfless sacrifice to carry out. Love does more than is expected for the unlovable.

 Perhaps your boss has a demanding demeanor or unrealistic expectations. But you do your work as “unto the Lord” (Colossians 3:23), praying for God’s grace to do your very best. Learn to look outside your immediate resources to other resourceful relationships who might lend their expertise. Do more than is expected by engaging a mentor who is experienced in the new role you have been assigned. Your second mile job attitude honors the Lord.

Moreover, generosity with our time and money is another way we can do more than expected. Giving is an expression of our gratitude to God for His incredible blessings. Perhaps we give more than our allocated time to a seeking stranger who needs direction for their life and work. Or, a young person may need our encouragement for their season of striving to get established. When we are generous with our calendar and cash we go the second mile in our relational investments. Thus, we give more than is expected to those God puts in our path.

Make today a day of impact or the Kingdom
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Pastor Todd A. Brown
First Baptist of Chesterbrook
1740 Kirby Rd.  Mclean Va. 22101

Vision:" Disciples Making a Kingdom Impact"

Mission: Exalting, Evangelizing, Equipping, and Encouraging every soul in Christ

Listen to "Life Notes" & "Kingdom Impact with Pastor Brown

Mon-Fri at noon and Sundays at 9am and Wednesdays at 9pm on WBGRonline.com
www.fbcc-va.org

www.wbgronline.com

Ambition

I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. John 17:4

Godly ambition brings glory to God. Yet, we don’t always reflect the glory back to our Lord. our motives sometimes become mixed. we want to be thought of in a good light and given credit for our accomplishments. But, the Holy Spirit reminds us that our Savior is to be in the spotlight, not us. He is the Light of all men and the light of the world, we are only an illumination of His greater glory. Any  industry success is an illustration of the Spirit at work through our work. 

Jesus came to the end of His work by finishing the work assignment given to Him by His heavenly Father. Satan’s hellish agenda could not lure the Lord Christ away from His heavenly mission. Suffering did not give Jesus an excuse to exchange His pain for a renouncement of His equality with God. Instead He surrendered any expedient desires and submitted to the will of His Father. At His death the ungodly ambitions of sinful men were nailed to the cross.

The path of godly ambition is not without resistance and rejection. Those with competing agendas may very well oppose our Spirit led agendas. Some may try to discredit our work so they get credit for the work. If so, we trust the Lord to bring honor to Himself; we do not have to highjack the process. Godly ambition waits on the Holy Spirit to work in spite of unholy influences. When we stay focused on being faithful to our calling, God’s does His work, and His work is the best work.

Moreover, godly ambition finishes well by finishing the work of God. Thoroughness is an attribute of those who trust in the Lord to use their gifts and skills for His glory. We stay on point, so we can point people to Christ. Furthermore, we adjust along the way to meet the needs of those who need us. We may say no to an opportunity so we have more time to invest in a needy individual. Godly ambition trusts God. We get less attention, so we are available to give attention to other needy souls. Ultimately, we die to ourselves so Christ can live through us.

Make today a day of impact for the Kingdom
--

 

Pastor Todd A. Brown
First Baptist of Chesterbrook
1740 Kirby Rd.  Mclean Va. 22101

Vision:" Disciples Making a Kingdom Impact"

Mission: Exalting, Evangelizing, Equipping, and Encouraging every soul in Christ

Listen to "Life Notes" & "Kingdom Impact with Pastor Brown

Mon-Fri at noon and Sundays at 9am and Wednesdays at 9pm on WBGRonline.com
www.fbcc-va.org

www.wbgronline.com

Good Friday

So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). Here they crucified him… John 19:16b-18a

Good Friday is really good for those who have come to the foot of the cross of Jesus, in repentance and faith. It is a commemoration for believers of the ultimate and final sacrifice for the sins of the world. Through a cruel and grueling death, Christ gave His life, His body wreathed in pain, so the sick could be healed. He felt abandonment, so the rejected could be accepted. He knew no sin, but became sin, so sinners could be forgiven. 

Oh what salvation and love the Lord’s life consummated on Calvary. Oh what forgiveness His raspy voice reiterated. Oh what compassion, His swollen face communicated. Oh what grace, His nail pierced hands activated. Oh what good news, His nail pierced feet initiated. Oh what humility, His crown of thorns demonstrated.

It is Good Friday, because the good news of Jesus Christ’s love and forgiveness has been proclaimed around the world for almost two millennium. Taste and see that the Lord is good. He is good on Friday, but He is great on Resurrection Sunday, because on the first day of the week He rose from the dead. Friday is good beloved, but three days later is better, for He lives! Indeed, some who killed Him instantly recognized Him for who He was, they believed.

Good Friday’s come and Good Friday’s go, but how is it with your soul? Does the cross of Christ move you to emotion are you a grateful and engaged disciples of Jesus? If not, embrace and celebrate the Cross. Ask your heavenly Father to restore the joy of your salvation, or maybe, you are coming to Him for the first time in faith and trust. Surely, this man must be the Son of God who came to save you and the world from their sins.

Make today a meaningful memory of what your master Jesus did for you. Linger long in reflection of the love that flowed down, and mingled with His precious blood. See His hands, see His feet; oh what love that makes your joy complete. You serve a risen Savior, who’s in the world today He walks with you He talks with you He gave His life just for you. Good Friday is good because Jesus is good and His cross is God’s loving gift.

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Pastor Todd A. Brown
First Baptist of Chesterbrook
1740 Kirby Rd.  Mclean Va. 22101

Vision:" Disciples Making a Kingdom Impact"

Mission: Exalting, Evangelizing, Equipping, and Encouraging every soul in Christ

Listen to "Life Notes" & "Kingdom Impact with Pastor Brown

Mon-Fri at noon and Sundays at 9am and Wednesdays at 9pm on WBGRonline.com
www.fbcc-va.org

www.wbgronline.com

Provision

At that time Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them. Matthew 12:1

The Lord’s provision does not lack in practicality. What need do you have? Are you stressed out by striving or have you looked around for a simple solution? It may take some creativity and risk, if Christ has what you need (which He does), don't be shy. Forgo ego and appropriate faith. Access His provision and let Him manage how it gets to you. He knows what is best.

Is your struggle over lack of work? Are you willing to work with your hands outside of your interests to provide for your family? Labor is labor; it can be toilsome and tiring at times. So even if your job is temporarily tedious, look at it as a gift from God. Be proud of your work, even when it is more transactional than relational. Our perspective becomes more grateful and realistic when work becomes a necessity, not an option.

Productive work keeps us focused on provision for those who depend on us, keeping us away from unproductive activities. Paul states it well, “For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: ‘If a man will not work, he shall not eat.’ We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies’" (2 Thessalonians 3:10–11). Provision follows preparation; so prepare your heart in humility, your head in integrity, and your hands in diligence. God helps those who prepare, work hard, and trust Him.

It is bad theology to blame God, the church, and others for our needy situation. It is good theology to be resourceful and seek solutions that require humility and focus. Whom have you invested in over the years who would be honored to give back to you? When you are transparent about your needs, you give other souls an opportunity to be blessed by blessing you. Honesty is a pure platform to invite God’s provision through friends.

Lastly, do not allow religious restraints to rob you of receiving mercy and being served on the Christian Sabbath. Is there a better time for the body of Christ to care for one another than on our day of corporate worship and biblical teaching? Indeed, engage with believers when you are in need, each part of the body needs the other. If you remain silent you deny others a blessing; when you speak up God practically provides.

Make today a day of Impact for the Kingdom
--

 

Pastor Todd A. Brown
First Baptist of Chesterbrook
1740 Kirby Rd.  Mclean Va. 22101

Vision:" Disciples Making a Kingdom Impact"

Mission: Exalting, Evangelizing, Equipping, and Encouraging every soul in Christ

Listen to "Life Notes" & "Kingdom Impact with Pastor Brown

Mon-Fri at noon and Sundays at 9am and Wednesdays at 9pm on WBGRonline.com
www.fbcc-va.org