Matthew 5:41
And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two [miles].
Last year we visited British Columbia in order to see the bears catching the salmon. As we planned our tour, the road getting to the wildlife platform looked pretty smooth on Google maps. In practice, the second part of the journey led us via the Heckman Pass - a precarious unmade road winding down into a deep canyon. The first day we did it, it seemed a terrible route to travel - not something we could do everyday. However, as we had set this platform as our goal, we had to negotiate it daily.
It must have been 1981, I was reading "If", a book by Amy Carmichael, a missionary to India in the last century. In it she expands on what it means to go the second mile that Jesus is talking about.
Just a little quote:
"The way of love is not an easy way. If our hearts be set on walking in that way we must be prepared to suffer. It was not an easy way the Master went; should not the servant tread it still? It is possible that we maybe enclosed in circumstances which drain our natural love, till we feel as dry as grass on an Indian hillside under a burning sun."
At times we have to go a second mile in order to truly follow Jesus. He didn't HAVE to suffer and go to the cross for us - but supernatural, undeserved love took Him there, one agonising step at a time - till He accomplished His goal - our salvation.
We too may stumble under the weight of the burden we are forced to bear.
We may need to let a "Simon" carry our cross for a while as we go along our Calvary way (Luke 23:26).
That second mile will display love in a way that the first mile can't!
The first mile is forced, the second mile is a free gift.
Selah
What "second mile" am I being called to walk?
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