Go for Two
“But I say to you…”
As we’re all well aware, it’s Monday - a day usually associated with “the grind,” with hardship. Let’s be honest - Monday is usually a day filled with coffee and complaining. But today Jesus calls us to something more. Today, Jesus calls us to a radical gift of self. As Jesus puts it, “You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you…”
Not just one cheek, but two. Not just the clothes off your back, your coat as well. Not just one mile, but two.
He asks for more.
He encourages us to be more than we are and to give all that we can. He doesn’t exclude Mondays. Or any other day of the week. And while we can offer cheeks and coats and miles, we know that it’s not really about a jacket. It’s about our hearts. As always,
Jesus is teaching our minds to focus on His heart.
He’s encouraging us to grow in generosity, in mercy, in compassion, in sacrifice. He’s calling us to be outward focused - to see the needs of others and respond with generosity, to give ourselves with God’s abundance in mind.
Jesus doesn’t just want us to turn a cheek, He wants us to love the angry and offer mercy.
Jesus doesn’t just want us to give someone a coat, He wants us to love the poor and offer our resources freely.
Jesus doesn’t just want us to march two miles, He wants us to love the leaders who ask, to walk towards heaven with those who are serving beside us, and to offer our hearts to mission.
At the heart of this scripture,
Jesus is asking us to love people.
He wants us to love people. Really love people. He asks us to focus on them - what they’re really asking and what they really need instead of priding or sulking in our sacrifice or suffering or gift.
Our God needs us to love His church, His body, the children of God. Jesus really, really loves His church. And when we love Him intimately, we care deeply about what He cares about. And Jesus, He cares about His people. A LOT.
It’s easy to hear this and think - duh. I know He loves us. I know He cares about each person. But slow down with me for a moment and really ponder this.
Jesus would die for every single person you meet.
He cares about every. single. soul. A LOT.
He would go to the cross even if anyone was the only one. He would have come for the one.
He would have come just for you, and He would have come just for your annoying coworker. He would have come just for the mean girl on Twitter. He would have come just for the abortion doctor. He would have come just for the homeless man in the street who is clearly hopped up on drugs. He would have come just for the self-important secretary at church who takes her job too seriously. He would have come for an avid supporter of sex changes for children who believe they are transgender.
He would have come just for a chance to save a woman profoundly angry at Him for not allowing same-sex marriage. Or a man who hates the church because of the abuse he suffered at the hands of a priest or bishop. Or a woman choosing prostitution. Or a know-it-all Christian. Or a priest who preaches heresy. Or a new age crystal lover.
Just for a chance at salvation for just ONE of them, He would have come.
He would have come for just one, single lost sheep - to give that one, single lost sheep a chance to come back to Him.
So go for two. Go for two miles because…
You’re not just helping out, you’re loving His lost sheep.
You’re loving someone that He died to save. You’re being an ambassador for Jesus to someone. You’re being given a chance to bring joy and love and peace into someone’s life. So answer the call.
Father,
I ask you to convict our hearts today. May we see your people and fall in love with who You made them to be. Help us to see the way You do - to see the very best version of each person we encounter. Holy Spirit, come into our hearts and help us. Inspire us with Your words instead of our own. Renew our hearts so we can deeply LOVE your people. Empty us that we can be vessels of the Father’s divine and perfect love. Remove the pressure of performance and help us to simply pour out love. Help us to focus on the person in front of us instead of ourselves.
Give us Your vision, God. Help us to see. Be thou our vision.
