The Extra Mile

UV 774/10,000 The Extra Mile Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two. Matthew 5 v 41 Obligation is doing what is required of us but commitment and engagement implied going far beyond what is required of us. We need to go the extra mile with an extra smile, meaning we need to do it cheerfully and willingly and not as if we are under compulsion. The values that Scripture describes as fruit of the Spirit namely, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility and self control should inform all that we do. Instead of looking at the whole distance that we need to travel in life and feeling discouraged, we can just focus on the next milestone and complete the journey mile by mile. As we move, He will show us signposts and send encouragement our way. Like a runner who sees the approaching finishing line, gets pumped up with a final burst of energy as we approach the end, we must show a similar momentum, a final burst of energy. This is what I intend to do as I enter the last phase of my career in the coming years. Most people in the natural are driven by their own need and desires. For every single thing they do, they ask, “ what’s in it for me?” They are contented to do just what is necessary. But our reward is from the Lord. This thought drives us to demonstrate extraordinary commitment and excellence in all that we do. The passion of Christ that made Him set His face like flint even knowing that He was going to be painfully and shamefully crucified inspires us to reflect a similar passion in our far less painful daily work. He thought nothing of the pain and shame and willingly walked the extra miles to Jerusalem for the last time before His death and resurrection. It is the power and strength that the Lord provides that enables us to do what is extraordinary and to excel. He gives us the grace and zeal to go the whole distance He wants us to go in life. On our part, we need to discipline the remnants of the three roots of our former bondage, the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life. When our eye is focussed on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith or the initiator, the sustainer and rewarder, we will be able to climb the mountain despite every discouragement or circumstance just as a mountaineer is inspired by the very sight of the summit to overcome all the hurdles of fear, the risks of falling to his death, his physical tiredness, the mental fatigue, the loneliness, the biting cold and piercing icy winds. Prateep V Philip