“Up, my drowsing eyes!
Up, my sinking heart!
Up, to Jesus Christ arise!
Claim your part
In all raptures of the skies!
“Yet a little while,
Yet a little way,
Saints shall reap and rest and smile
All the day:
UP! Let’s trudge another mile!”
One of our Lord’s remarkable exhortations is, “Whosoever shall compel thee to go one mile, go with him two.” That is, do more than you are expected to do, be better than you are expected to be, go farther in love and service and self-denial than you are required to go. The immediate reference is to the old hard days when most men had to serve despotic masters and often do compulsory service. For example, men would be required to go with invading soldiers to guide them through the country and carry their burdens. “If such forced service is demanded of you,” said Jesus, “do not resist; go cheerfully; go even farther than you are compelled to go.”
Of course, this is only an illustration of a principle. The Christian is to accept hardness patiently. He is not to watch the clock lest he may work a few minutes over time. He is not to keep account of all the things he does for others, lest he may do more than he is required to do. Rather, when he is serving, he is to do more than strict duty demands. He is to go two miles instead of one.
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