Going the Second Mile

Hello teens, and anyone else who may stumble across this. First off, let me apologize for the lengthy silence. The last post I made was about Brooklyn being born. I guess you can see the impact that has had on my life. I haven’t been back on here for 6 months. However, this is one of the many areas I want to improve on this new year.

On New Year’s Eve, I had the privilege of preaching at our church. The Lord laid on my heart the thought of being a “second mile Christian.” Matthew 5:41 says “And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain (two).”

The Persians and the Romans both had a rule that they could stop you, no matter what you were doing or where you were going, and make you do a mile’s worth of work as long as it was the kings business. The people hated them for it.

Imagine how inconvenient that would be. You are in a hurry, you have something to get done and you are running out of time, and suddenly you are grabbed by a Roman Centurion and told to do a specific job. Drop everything you are doing, and get busy or you can be put to death. You can imagine how much the people hated it and wanted Jesus to get rid of the rule.

Teenager, Christian, friend, you need to understand the attitude that Jesus commanded his disciples to have. Jesus said I want you to be willing to go two miles. I want you to have the attitude that you will do double of that which is required of you. That is what Jesus expects of us as Christians. We are different, and our attitude should show it.

In the home, workplace, school, church, I want to challenge you to be a second mile Christian this year for the Lord. Have the attitude that you are willing to go the second mile for Him. The church (in general) is full of 1/2 mile Christians. Christians who want the Lord to bless them just for showing up and taking their place in the pew. However, they have no desire to talk to the Lord throughout the week; no desire to obey what He commands in His word; no desire to seek His will for their life.

Jesus wants us to go two miles. That is my challenge to you today. Here are 3 specific areas you should go the second mile:

1. Reading your Bible – its amazing what picking up the Bible and reading it can do to your day and your life. The busier you are, the more you need to take time to read your Bible every day. It gives you direction, wisdom, and understanding for what God expects from you. Make time right now on your calendar to read your Bible every day. You will be glad you did.

2. Encouraging others – I hope you will do your best this year to be an encourager. Go the second mile in this area. Your words are powerful, and they can be used to lift people up or tear them down. It is possible to say more and talk less.

3. Asking the Lord for direction – so many young people are just wandering through this life with no direction or purpose. Ask the Lord to give you wisdom and direction for your life. It’s not to early to pray for where you should go to college, or if you should go to college. Pray for your future spouse (seriously). Seek the Lord’s wisdom. You have so many big decisions coming your way in the next 10 years. It’s time to be calling out to God for His direction.

Obviously this list is just the beginning. I hope you will pray and ask the Lord to help you be a second mile Christian, and then get busy about doing it. Let’s have a great year and thank you for taking the time to read this.

Brian