By Mark Maher
“If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles.“ (Matthew 5:41) Christ calls us to go the extra mile. You can’t minimize your calling. It takes time, it takes effort. You do extra for people, get out of your comfort zone. The heart change is what Christ calls a softened heart. You lose the spirit of “have to” and gain the spirit of “I get to.” It’s the difference between “being asked” and “volunteering.” The difference between “following” and “leading.” The spirit leads. The flesh hesitates, processes, procrastinates, assesses, calculates, and is slow to respond.
You have to train yourself every day. Always searching for more, we step out of the norm, go beyond what is expected. What won’t you do for Christ? Where is your threshold? What is your tipping point? Train yourself to put a “yes” on your heart at a minimum. The extra mile is listening to God’s calling on your life. What’s He asking you to do? Listening has an expiration date, but action must be found. “Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” (James 2:17)
Go beyond what you “have to” do. “For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!” (1 Corinthians 9:16) Speak life, encourage, invite, meet with someone. Surrender your time, your gifts, your talents, your giving. Going “the extra mile” means you see your supply and your abundance (John 10:10) as Christ doesn’t give you a spirit of fear or worry. “He will supply all your needs.” (Philippians 4:19)
Surrender your will to Gods and know who you are in Christ. “You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are – no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.” (Matthew 5:5 MSG) Put a “yes” on your heart and become a “servant for Christ.” (John 12:26) Ephesians 4:1 says we are to “be prisoners for the Lord.” Are you a prisoner for the Lord? Is your life fully surrendered? Do you go the extra mile at every opportunity?
“Don’t be conformed by the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds.” (Romans 12:2) Comfort is not the way of faith. Faith means you put yourself out there. You get out on that limb, risking it all. “You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.” (Matthew 5:3 MSG) I know it doesn’t make sense, but pouring it all out, going the extra mile, is where we run out of our strength, and find God’s strength.
We’re not called to be stingy or to pick and choose. We are called to “be generous with our lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16 MSG)
You are in charge of the dimmer of your light from within. “You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand.” (Matthew 5:14-15 MSG) Shine a bright light, be all that God has called you to be, it’s so worth going the extra mile for Christ.
“She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar.” (Proverbs 31:14) She searches for the best food, goes above and beyond, does extra, goes the extra mile.  A person who goes the extra mile doesn’t tend to be a grumbler or a complainer. The spirit of arguing, complaining, grumbling or murmuring (Philippians 2:14) is not the heart of someone who has willingly chosen to go the extra mile. God’s work is the heart change.
Today let’s go the extra mile. We won’t only go to church, we will shake hands and connect to people after church.  Next time we go to a Bible study, let’s invite one more person. “The first mile is about what’s expected. The second mile is about what’s unexpected.” Dan T. Cathy
God’s heart is found in the 2nd mile. “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” (Colossians 3:23-24) The 1st mile might’ve been done for Christ but the extra mile is done from Christ. 
