Minute Meditations

There is never a traffic jam on the extra mile. Jesus plainly told us that ”whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.”

The fact that Jesus told us to do this does not mean that it is done. That extra mile must be the most deserted stretch of road in the world.

Most people try to do as little as possible – to do the very minimum, just trying to get by. Even in the business world, the person who goes the extra mile is so rare that they stand out and rise to the top like cream in the milk. One would think that in the Truth, the brethren and sisters of the Lord Jesus Christ would all be looking for ways to show their love for his teachings by jamming that extra mile of the road to the kingdom by their kind and loving deeds to each other. Unfortunately, there are some who are even less diligent in their service to their King than they are to the boss at work. Many will drag themselves to work when they feel poorly but the slightest ache or pain will keep them from the meeting. Some wander in late for God’s service when they would not think of being tardy in the work place. There are those who can be depended upon to carry out their work assignments faithfully, but when asked to call on a contact or visit a sick sister they just never get around to it.

By our actions, we certainly tell God what we think is important. Often our actions announce, even to the brotherhood, just how we regard the teachings of our Master. By the things we do and don’t do, we are declaring our love or lack of it for the Lord.

In our ecclesia, we once had a brother who only came to the evening public lecture when he gave it. He never heard another speak because it was not important to him unless he was the speaker. He has since left the Truth altogether. What if each one only came when he had to perform? If God’s proclamation of the Truth is important, then it is important for us to be there to support His work. Some ask, ”What can I do for the Lord?” The answer is – be there!

Do we somehow think we are doing God a favor when we do our daily Bible readings? It really does not help Him for us to read His word. We are the ones who benefit. When we pray, is this to let God know that we are paying our daily dues to Him?Prayer is God’s gracious gift to us, not ours to Him.

We show our love for the Lord, we go the extra mile, when we put ourselves out for our brethren and sisters. In Paul’s day, there was also a shortage of brethren and sisters who did this. He said, ”I have no one like him, (Timothy) who will be genuinely anxious for your welfare. They all look after their owe interests, not those of Jesus Christ.”

Whose business do we care about? By our actions, we give the answer. If we do not like the answer we are giving, now is the time for us to decide to go that extra mile for the Lord. When we do it for our brethren and sisters, we do it for him, for he said, ”Truly I say unto you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it for me.”