Matthew 5:41 (NIV)
41 If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.
When Jesus taught the sermon on the Mount that we read in Matthew 5, 6, and 7, it was accepted by law that a Roman Soldier could force a Jewish person to carry his gear for one mile. The Romans were oppressive to the Jews and it probably wasn’t received well when Jesus made this outlandish statement regarding the 2nd mile.
What do you think the Roman soldier did when the Jewish 2nd miler offered to carry his gear for an additional mile? He most certainly would have been surprised and would likely have asked “WHY?” When this soldier asked “Why?”, it created a conversation opportunity that would surely lead to sharing about the Jewish carpenter named Jesus and what He was teaching.
When we go the second mile with people in our circle of influence, especially when it may be with unlikely people, it creates conversation opportunities that lead to sharing the hope found in Jesus.
This past Sunday I challenged CATGrovers to do a “second mile act of kindness” for someone in our circle of influence. Have you completed your “second mile act of kindness” this week? Have you made plans? Have you thought about it? Go ahead, make some plans and carry out a “second mile act of kindness” with someone and create a conversation opportunity. You never know where it might lead.
what an awesome (chain)reaction we all could create eminating like a sunami from Loganville if we followed this example even once!