Matt 5:41

"And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain."

I hear that saying, "go the extra mile" a lot. I assume it was taken from this verse at some point. I think that the verse speaks worlds louder though.

Jesus is speaking here to the multitudes. This passage is known as the Sermon on the Mount. I read this verse the other night and there are a few words that stick out to me with new light.

1. Whosoever

2. a mile

3. go

4. twain

1. Whosoever- Jesus says it! If ANYONE asks you to GO a mile you should go two. Last night I decided that if this verse was to be applied to anyone it needs to be applied to EVERYONE, just as God intended it to be when he commanded it. When I read things like this my first thought is normally just the broad sense of "others". Friends, family, church members, strangers. Most of the time I forget about the family that is closest to me. I forget that these types of verses apply to my husband and children too. They need to start at home and work outward!!!! Not the other way around!! I have a tendency to complain about driving all over creation (as I phrase it) with my husband. I like things to be well organized and thought out. He does not!! He like to take the more relaxed blow where the wind blows, or wherever I suddenly feel like going approach. We have a tendency to drive each other nuts. : ) I do not think at all that God asks us to GO blindly just because we are asked. We need to make sure that the people are trustworthy and the request is Biblically sound. Especially with strangers. As spouses we can keep each other in check, but again through Biblical means. Next time he wants to drive all over the place I should try to remember this verse. I should GO with him twain.

When my kids ask me to play "people" with them for the ump-teenth time, or to go to the park, or to read them the same book over and over again I should consider GOing with them twain!!! I'm not saying to let kids rule your life, but if there is no reason to say "no" other than the fact that you just don't feel like it, think about saying yes. Show them that extra mile. How many times do we as parents expect to see them perform to that extra mile? You know they don't feel like going to the store with you again, or sitting through the adult service at church, but we expect them to give it their all, and to do it with a good attitude. Have we been giving them the same treatment in return?

2. and 4. a mile and twain- I am just thinking of the distance here. Some people look at a mile as a big deal when they have to walk it or ride a bike (depending on your level of activity and health). But what if we just have to drive it? Not too bad then! Oh, 2 miles, not so bad I can drive a little faster. My point is that people see things in different ways. How you view what is asked of you will impact everything. It can even impact IF you WILL GO! In the end we all are asked to cross different miles in our lives, BUT they are all just miles!! How big is yours looking? Who are you depending on to get you to the mark? Will we get to the mark, and once we do will we say, "alright, I made it, my work here is done", or will we keep going and give it our all! Will we go twain and do ALL things for the glory of God? When we stop at the mile mark, we are really just seeking our own glory! If we Say "alright, I made it my work here is done", who is the focus on? We are simply trying to build up what WE have done, make ourselves feel like we helped, or chipped in! Notice the words in that phrase! I did it, MY work! If we stop at the mile mark than our heart is not in it and it shows! Our heart is in ourselves! Not others and certainly not what Christ wishes of us. OUr hearts may not be in the task or whatever it is when we do decide that we WILL GO twain, but if we are doing for Christ and we will feel no remorse about it, no boredom! We will feel a sense of joy and pleasure even in the worst conditions and situations!

3. GO- this is my favorite. It brings all of them together! Who commands us to GO? CHRIST!!! "And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain." Are we ready to GO with Christ twain??? He has compelled us!!! He has commanded us!!!!!! GO ye therefore!!! So many times Christ heals someone and tells them to GO!! I love it!! When Christ tells us to gGO we know that he will guide us if we fallow! He is our loving Saviour ! If his eye is on the sparrow his eye is one us! He is longing for us to GO WITH him!! What joy it must bring him when we do! When we surrender! Never ALONE!! He is always with us! AMAZING LOVE! AMAZING GRACE! To my ears tonight it is a sweet sweet sound!!

Lord, help me to GO! But not just that Lord, help me to GO twain!!! I pray that I learn to fallow! That I would not lift myself up and cause pride to bring me low! You lift me up Father and set my feet on the solid ground, yet so often I seem to be falling right back into the miry clay. Thank you for continuing to lift me! For loving me enough! More that enough! Thank you that your grace has no limit!!