The Miracle Mile

Love Worth Finding | Audio Program

Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: Matthew 5:38-42

We live in a very self-centered world—a society tightly wrapped up in itself. But there is joy waiting for those who step outside of themselves, go the miraculous mile, and find selfless, Christ-filled living.

Matthew 5:41-42 says, “And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.”

In Jesus’ day, a Roman soldier could, by law, force a Jew to carry his burdens one mile for him. This was a very humiliating act, and though this law is no longer in effect, the practice of the second mile transcends time and place.

Jesus commands us to do more than what is required by law. There are times when our dignity is degraded, but we are called to go a second mile.

When someone has and expresses a need to us, we are expected to help. While we are not called to enable lawlessness or fraudulence, we are called to act out of love, not just out of obedience.

Adrian Rogers says, “We do not simply pay what we owe; we look beyond what we owe to see what they need and what we can do with that which God has put in our hand.”

When we begin to live this way, it transforms us and gives us joy we’d never have any other way. It changes our attitude; we go from thinking ‘I have to’ to ‘I want to, because my Lord has taught me to.’

Adrian Rogers says, “The first mile is the slave mile; the second mile is the smile mile. The first mile, you are the victim, but in the second mile, you are the victor.”

Second-mile living also breeds ground for success. The bare minimum has never made anyone happy or wealthy; understanding this transforms our work ethic.

Going the second mile routinely is the key to better relationships and it strengthens our witness. People can see the difference. Living this way will open doors to conversations we wouldn’t otherwise have.

Apply it to your life

What does the miracle mile look like in your daily life? Are you willing to put in some extra effort at work? Will you show love to people in a way that makes them see the difference in you?