I have an announcement to share before beginning this posting. We are moving this blog to NoblePurpose Ministries’ homepage. Find this blog at http://www.noblepurposeministries/blog. WordPress has been a wonderful host for the past two years. We appreciate the service they provide by hosting a forum for people to share their thoughts. This move was solely based on a decision to consolidate the various aspects of NoblePurpose Ministries into a single site. As our capabilities advanced, we were about to make this move. The blog at the NoblePurpose Ministries homepage still uses WordPress’ format, another great service which we appreciate them for. So. in the next few months this blog will move and we will continue to share the thoughts of various Christian leaders, but from our new location. Thanks. Dan
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I am convinced that the greatest reason for Christians who fail to grow in relationship with Jesus Christ is that we lose our focus and become distracted by all of the things around us. As life happens around us, we sacrifice the only thing that will sustain our joy. We fail to study the Word of God, we stop praying, we don’t spend any time in His presence, we only think about God when we are “suppose to,” like coming to church. We wonder why we are not growing? What is the barrier that we can’t overcome?
The second mile is the place where barriers are overcome and records are broken. We look at all of the record holders. Guiness Book of World Records presents all kinds of strange barriers that people have overcome. But there is another kind of barrier that we cannot overcome by our strength or abilities. The only way to win over this barrier is to surrender to the One who promises to carry us through it.
One of my favorite scriptures is Isaiah 40:31,
“Yet those who wait for the LORD
Will gain new strength;
They will mount up with wings like eagles,
They will run and not get tired,
They will walk and not become weary.”
Jesus said, “If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.” Matthew 5:41. We have heard the explanations of Roman law allowing Roman soldiers to demand someone to carry their load. But we miss the point of Jesus words by looking at the technicalities. He message is simple – find joy in going beyond what is demanded. Jesus is saying “Come. Join me in the second mile.”
We can walk with many good people on the first mile. We walk with confidence that we can do good things. We do what we think is right while we walk the first mile. However, In the second mile, we realize that faith is not a one time decision to complete, check off the list and get on with life. It is making your plans and asking God to bless them. He is not some rabbit’s foot that you keep in your pocket. He is the Almighty God, sovereign, holy, and perfect. He is the only one deserving of honor and worship. And God wants to have a personal relationship with me??? and you??? Wow!
Another reason that we grow tired of Christian living is that we depend on ourselves to fix the problems. We are not patiently watching God work. That is because the story of faith is found in the Second Mile. In the second mile we enter eternity. Do you realize that eternity is not something that we are waiting for? It isn’t the next period which comes after Jesus’ return for His disciples. Jesus prayed to His Father, “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” In the second mile we know God and Jesus.
In the second mile we find surrender. This is a hard lesson for me. I have been scarred by our western culture which encourages us to multi-task. I am very good at multi-tasking. I can work on six different major projects simultaneously. I am a good time manager and keep a calendar of my wife’s birthday, our anniversary, birthdates of my children, special events. etc. We are taught, and I’m afraid that we teach our children, to compartment our lives – this area is my work life, this is my social life, this is the place of my family life, and here we have is my Christian life.
However, we surrender all of these areas in the second mile. This is the place Jesus invites us to join Him in Matthew 11:28-29, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Here Jesus tells us how to join Him for the second mile. Notice that we have three instructions here –Come, Take, and Learn. These are the steps of relationship building. No compartments, no hidden motives, no selfish agendas, just surrender and freedom. Sounds strange, doesn’t it. However, test it and see if it’s true.
In Him,
Dan
www.noblepurposeministries.org
