© 18 Colin Melbourne
Why not just a mile?
Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
Mtt. 5:38-42 KJV
The Believer’s Zeal
This is how we are to live under the New Covenant all the time.
An impossible task for sinners; but not for the saints of the Most High, believers in the cleft of the Rock. (Ex. 33:21-22 KJV “clift”)
Are you a believer in Christ Jesus, or a stumbling sinner?
Are you a child of Almighty God, or still a child of the Devil?
Ditch The Doubter’s Religion
Decide, choose.
There’s no fence to sit on, as many pretend.
“Well I’m just a sinner saved by grace.”
Is that how you think and talk?
That’s not Bible Christianity, that’s man’s religion.
Think as God Thinks
Repent from religion; come into Christ, believe, think, and speak in line with His word;
“I was born a sinner, but now that I’m born again, I’m a righteous new creature in Christ: Saved by Grace!”
This passage from what we call, “The Sermon on the Mount” is another example of The Word made Flesh exhorting us to switch from human thoughts to God’s way.
- His hearers couldn’t do so then, they could not be born of God until after the resurrection
- They could not be filled with His Life until Pentecost.
- The revelation of redemption had not yet been given to Paul, he was still bound in human thinking and sin as “Saul of Tarsus”.
But we have no excuse; The LORD arose from the dead, and poured out His Spirit, two thousand years ago, making it available to believers ever since.
Why?
To put an end to futile religion and rituals.
So that sinners can repent, believe, and be born again, born of God, born of His Spirit, be made righteous, holy and blameless: New creatures in Christ Jesus!
Halleluia!
Life Not Religion
With God’s Divine Life in us, believers become brand new inside, enabled to walk in step with Christ, and continue His ministry today.
It’s altogether superior to religion and human tradition.
That’s why God gave Saul of Tarsus the new name; Paul, because he had been born again, made a new creature in Christ, eager to go not just one mile, but “twain”.
The best way to know this blessed position in Him, is by the experience of obeying His teaching, turning the other cheek, going the extra mile, giving your “cloke”, and lending to all who ask.
Life in the Spirit
By which He exemplified what it is to wholeheartedly follow the LORD, allowing His Spirit to rule in your spirit: Thus keeping your flesh under the control of your born again spirit.
Sinners cannot do it because they don’t have God’s Spirit at all.
New believers baulk at it, because it’s the polar opposite to how they’ve always walked.
In contrast: Spirit-filled disciples revel in the blessing of fulfilling this word.
It is our life and joy.
But why “twain” (two), the extra mile, why not just one mile?
Dare to do it wholeheartedly and you will find out!
It is not human nature, it’s not reasonable, it’s not even fair in the eyes of sinners.
But discipled Spirit-filled saints have discovered this is where His Glory is manifested on Earth.
It is when signs and wonders begin.
Where God Lives in and through you.
You are abiding in the word.
His fruit made available.
His power displayed.
Multitudes fed.
Are you hungry?
© 18 Colin Melbourne
