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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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
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.fbcc-va.org
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