Have you only done your duty?

When Christ was preaching to the multitudes, He made an interesting request. “And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.” (Matthew 5:41)

A Roman soldier could “compel” a Jew to carry his pack for 1,000 paces, or one Roman mile. By offering to go a second mile, a Christian would be doing two things;

First, he would then give a positive testimony to the Roman soldier. Part of me wonders if the Roman Centurion that believes on Christ in Matthew 8 was brought to the faith by the simple testimony of one Christian who chose to go “the extra mile” after this sermon.

Secondly, by going a second mile, it would be a positive testimony to the next Jew in line who would have been stuck carrying the bag. It is testimony of Self-Sacrifice that is indicative of a walk with Christ.

As we go through our Christian lives let us remember the admonition in Luke 17:10

 

“So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.”