Have you heard people use the phrase, ‘going The Extra Mile’?
What does that really mean and why is it so important? There is a saying, “Go The Extra Miles, is never crowded” — Unknown
“So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin…. “
To him therefore that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” James 4:17
What is the biblical meaning of going The Extra Mile?
Many like to give the reference to the Roman Army; if a Roman soldier demanded that a Jewish man carry his burden a mile, which was what the law specified, then Jesus said that he should carry it twain, or two miles.
Going The Extra Mile (Matthew 5:41) meant that when someone forces you to do something, you should be ready to show the love of Jesus and go even further.
In the Sermon on the Mount in the New Testament gives Jesus’ answer to a heart of retaliation. In the Gospel of Matthew chapter 5, an alternative for “an eye for an eye” is given by Jesus:
“You have heard that it was said, “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.” Matthew 5:38–41.
In Luke chapter 6, Jesus commands us to “love your enemies”, Jesus says:
“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.” Luke 6:27-31.
When people wrong us, insult us or take our property, we want to see them pay for what they did to us.
The question we all need to ask ourselves today is, “Are we willing to go The Extra Mile for Jesus?”
Jesus Christ is our model. He lives in us showing us The Way, leading us in the Truth that releases the Life of God in us and through us.
It is another opportunity to be like Him, to die to self and let the love of God be released through us.
The Second Mile is not an obligation; it is an opportunity. Resisting the desire to retaliate or find a way to get revenge when we are wronged may be difficult in the moment of decision or in the struggle of letting go of a vindictive attitude but is another opportunity to ask ourselves, “What would Jesus do”?
He is in us and we are in Him. The truth lies in the fact that crucifying the flesh and responding in the opposite spirit allows the world to conclude that we act different because we are different.
Many times we are looking for shortcuts or the easy road but going The Extra Mile builds endurance for the long haul.
Actually when we are looking for the easiest path, we fail to develop the endurance. The Second Mile is another opportunity to give up our rights and yield to The Spirit of The LORD.
Often when we are facing an opportunity to turn the other cheek, go The Extra Mile, or respond in the opposite spirit, we generally are angry or have been hurt or wronged by a person or situation.
The enemy comes to tempt us to respond in our emotions or cut off any communication with the person wounded us. Literally, Satan comes to deceive you into acting just like the one who wronged you.
Beloved, I heard The LORD say, “Traveling the road of The Second Mile can be a long lonely road in the beginning but once you realize, you will never walk alone and I AM always with you, then you will find it is the Pathway to Perfect peace,” says the one who is PEACE.
“The road to life in Me,” says The LORD, “is a never ending road that leads to adventure, challenge, and eternal life.
Though the finish line may not be in sight, you are on a road that never ends. You may also find the enemy on that road attempting to set a trap or lure you off on a side road or dead end street, but I AM with you going before you to lead you in the right direction for you are on the road to LIFE EVERLASTING and it is taking you beyond obligation, or condemnation, or reputation, or consternation.
Choosing to turn the other cheek only sends a message that you are free, free.” says the Father.
“You have been set free to love those that persecute you, serve those who wronged you, because I have prepared a table before you in the presence of your enemies, ‘declares The LORD of all.
“Now, I have come in this hour of great consternation to speak to those who are being filled afresh with hope and expectation,” says The LORD.
“You are destined to win over evil in this time of clashing of the swords and the only way for good to triumph over evil is to go The Extra Mile i.e. go beyond the expectation of man and worldly viewpoints!
The Second Mile is an open road, but there are few that find it, because they are living their lives with darkened tunnel vision and they are walled in by their own weakness and fear of man.
I AM offering a new challenge to those will spread kindness and goodness faithfully and willingly cast off their heavy burdens in exchange for the rest and peace that only can be found with the God of The Extra Mile,” says The Father.
“It is LIFE to those who find it. It is the signature of Love that never fails. Life can be viewed as a two-way roadmap.
You may travel the path of the natural world or the path of the spiritual world but going The Extra Mile brings wholeness and total victory!.”
“But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,” 2 Timothy 3:1-4 ESV.
“Now the promise of entering into God’s rest is still for us today. So we must be extremely careful to ensure that we all embrace the fullness of that promise and not fail to experience it. 2 For we have heard the good news of deliverance just as they did, yet they didn’t join their faith with the Word. Instead, what they heard didn’t affect them deeply, for they doubted. 3 For those of us who believe, faith activates the promise and we experience the realm of confident rest! For he has said,
“I was grieved with them and made a solemn oath,
‘They will not enter into my rest.’ ”
God’s works have all been completed from the foundation of the world, 4 for it says in the Scriptures,
And on the seventh day God rested from all his works.
5 And again, as stated before,
They will not enter into my rest.
6 Those who first heard the good news of deliverance failed to enter into that realm of faith’s rest because of their unbelieving hearts. Yet the fact remains that we still have the opportunity to enter into the faith-rest life and experience the fulfillment of the promise! 7 For God still has ordained a day for us to enter into called “Today.” For it was long afterwards that God repeated it in David’s words,
“If only today you would listen to his voice and do not harden your hearts!”
8 Now if this promise of “rest” was fulfilled when Joshua brought the people into the land, God wouldn’t have spoken later of another “rest” yet to come. 9 So we conclude that there is still a full and complete Sabbath-rest waiting for believers to experience. 10 As we enter into God’s faith-rest life we cease from our own works, just as God celebrates his finished works and rests in them. 11 So then we must be eager to experience this faith-rest life, so that no one falls short by following the same pattern of doubt and unbelief.
12 For we have the living Word of God, which is full of energy, like a two-mouthed sword. It will even penetrate to the very core of our being where soul and spirit, bone and marrow meet! It interprets and reveals the true thoughts and secret motives of our hearts. 13 There is not one person who can hide their thoughts from God, for nothing that we do remains a secret, and nothing created is concealed, but everything is exposed and defenseless before his eyes, to whom we must render an account.
Jesus, Our Compassionate King-Priest
14 So then, we must cling in faith to all we know to be true. For we have a magnificent King-Priest, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who rose into the heavenly realm for us, and now sympathizes with us in our frailty. 15 He understands humanity, for as a man, our magnificent King-Priest was tempted in every way just as we are, and conquered sin. 16 So now we draw near freely and boldly to where grace is enthroned, to receive mercy’s kiss and discover the grace we urgently need to strengthen us in our time of weakness.” Hebrews 4:1-16 TPT.
Beloved, when God has spoken to you about what to do, do not be hesitant. Obey His Words.
The hour is late and the just shall live by faith. Go The Extra Miles, have faith in Him.
Matters of the Heart 