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Walking the Extra Mile

woman walking on pathway under the sun

Life can be a marathon, not a sprint. We often get so caught up in our own race, focused on the finish line of our personal goals and ambitions, that we forget those struggling to even take the first step. But what if the true measure of our journey wasn’t about how fast we ran, but how often we paused to help someone else along the way? Jesus himself taught about going the extra mile, not just to fulfill a duty but to demonstrate love and compassion. In Matthew 5:41, He says, “And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.” This principle of exceeding expectations echoes throughout scripture, and we see it powerfully illustrated in Matthew 25:35-40, where Jesus describes the final judgment and separates people based on their actions towards the “least of these.”

In this powerful passage, Jesus paints a vivid picture of the Kingdom of Heaven, where those who showed compassion to the hungry, thirsty, stranger, naked, sick, and imprisoned are welcomed into eternal life. He teaches that serving others is not merely an optional act of kindness, but an essential demonstration of our faith. “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to 1 me.” (Matthew 25:35-36 ESV) These words challenge us to examine our own lives and consider how we are living out our faith in tangible ways.  

This Sunday, we’ll talk about these passages and discover how the principle of “going the extra mile” connects to serving those in need. We’ll explore practical ways to answer this call within our own community. There are unlimited ways to serve our neighbors, and God gives us the freedom to do so. It’s far better to be known as someone who goes the extra mile than to be known as someone who never moved an inch. We will exercise our gift of serving this year!

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Hands That Heal: Compassion in Action

Matthew 14:14 tells us, “When Jesus went ashore he saw a large crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.” Jesus, tired as he was, exercised compassion to the crowd of thousands as soon as they reached the shore. In a world often characterized by indifference and isolation, showing compassion is more crucial than ever. It requires us to step outside our comfort zones and extend a helping hand to those in need. This can manifest in countless ways, from offering a listening ear to a friend struggling with grief to volunteering to feed the hungry.

Practical acts of compassion can take many forms. Physically, we can offer help with chores, provide transportation, or help fix up someone’s house. We can also contribute to organizations that provide essential services like food banks, shelters, and healthcare clinics. Emotionally, we can offer a shoulder to lean on, a comforting word, or simply our presence. Active listening, genuine empathy, and unconditional support can have a huge impact on someone’s mental and emotional well-being.

Ultimately, compassion is a choice. It is a conscious decision to prioritize the needs of others above our own. By embracing compassion in our daily lives, we not only help those in need but also enrich our own lives with meaning and purpose. As we reach out to others with kindness and understanding, we create a ripple effect of compassion that can transform our communities and make the world a more compassionate and just place for everyone.

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New Year, New Hands: Becoming the Hands and Feet of Jesus

two homeless people eating sandwich together

Happy New Year! This year, our church is focusing on becoming the hands and feet of Jesus, and our first sermon, “New Year, New Hands: Serving in the New Year” (Galatians 6:9-10), will launch this theme perfectly.

Galatians 6:9-10 encourages us not to grow weary in doing good, reminding us of a future harvest and urging us to serve all people, especially fellow believers. This passage emphasizes:

  • Perseverance: Don’t give up on serving, even when it’s difficult.
  • Timing: Trust in God’s timing for the results of our service.
  • Serving All: Extend love to everyone, with a special focus on our faith community.

Practically, this means:

  • Serving Within the Church: Volunteer in various ministries and use your gifts to build up the body of Christ.
  • Reaching the Community: Serve at local organizations, help neighbors, and be a light in the world.
  • Consistent Small Acts: Start small and be consistent; even small acts of kindness make a difference.

This year, let’s actively live our faith by becoming the hands and feet of Jesus, serving others and sharing His love. What will you do to serve this year?

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In the Beginning

shallow focus of sprout

There are only two birth narratives of Jesus in the Bible–Matthew and Luke. Mark and John omit the birth narrative. However, John’s gospel is unique because instead of beginning with Jesus’ physical birth he instead dates Jesus back to the beginning of time. He begins his gospel this way, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God” (John 1:1-2). This is a very important point because most people say that God sent His son, but they usually mean that God one day decided to create his son when he came through Mary.

But this isn’t what John means. John is clear that Christ was with God since the beginning. Not only was he with God, but “all things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men” (vs. 3-4). God had a plan from the beginning. God had a plan to redeem His people, for those who would repent and obey. Life is precious to God. He is the creator and giver of life and light.

When we follow Christ, we can’t forget that he was with God from the beginning. Christ knows our hearts and has seen everything man has done, both good and bad, from the beginning of time. John’s gospel is not a different story from the other gospel stories. Instead, it is a companion story that gives us the bigger picture. While the birth stories are beautiful accounts of our Savior, John’s story is a beautiful story of the hope we have with the one who made all things and gave us life from the very beginning!

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The Joy of the Lord Is My Strength

brown joy candle holder

During Ezra’s day, the Israelites were read the Law of Moses after a long period of rebellion against God. Nehemia joined Ezra in the public reading and encouragement to the people. When they heard the Law, their hearts were broken and they began to weep. Nehemiah encouraged them, telling them not to weep because God is a gracious God. He said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10 ESV).

The word for joy shares the same root as the word for grace. Joy is something that comes from the divine, not because of material or physical success. Put another way, joy comes from God’s grace. That is its genesis. It is a fruit of the Spirit. When the angels appeared to the shepherds to announce Jesus’ birth, one of them said, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people” (Luke 2:10). This clearly was a mesasge of salvation–God’s grace that was availalbe to all people!

When Jesus told his disciples that he is the vine and they are the branches, he reminded them that anyone who keeps Jesus’ commandments would abide in his love. And “whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). He told them all of this, not to scare them, but for a very different reason: “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full” (vs. 11). That’s incredible! The joy of the Lord is our strength and Jesus plainly said that if we abide in him and he in us, his joy will be in us and our joy will be full! Christ gives us his joy and his strength! This really is good news.

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Peace on Earth

brown wooden dock

The Israelites anticipated and waited for peace. God promised them abundance and peace if they were faithful to Him but, behold, they blew it over and over again. In acts of defiance they followed the Baals, living in complete rebellion and oppressing their neighbors. Isaiah prophesied about the person who would return to God and be devoted to Him: “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you” (Isaiah 26:3 ESV). Though Jesus said that he didn’t come to bring peace but a sword, he also said, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

Before Jesus came to Earth, people were waiting for the consolation of Israel. They waited in anticipation of better days when they would be rescued. The prophetess Anna gave thanks to God when Jesus was born and began “to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem” (Luke 2:38). Jesus brought, and still brings, peace to all who abide in him.

He has already overcome the world. In a world that is full of tribulations, Jesus is our only hope. He is the only way to God. He is the way, the truth, and the life. When our neighbors are distraught, we owe it to them to introduce Jesus to them. We have abundant opportunity to love and help our neighbors, inviting them to share in the peace that only Christ can bring.

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Gratitude as Our Shield

man in long sleeve shirt standing

The Bible has a lot to say about giving thanks to God, even when times are not good. God is the source of life and he loves his people. When times are tough, many people abandon God, blame him, or ignore him. Worse, we can become ungrateful and shape a worldview that believes everything and everyone is against us. But this often is not reality. Dietrich Bonhoeffer once said, “In ordinary life, we hardly realize that we receive a great deal more than we give, and that it is only with gratitude that life becomes rich.”

It’s true that, if we take honest inventory, most of us receive more than we give. His point is that only with gratitude can life become rich. Paul wrote to the Philippians from jail and said, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say rejoice. . . The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be know to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:4-7 ESV).

Indeed, gratitude is seen as a shield, given by God himself. We should continually give thanks, continually pray, and allow God to shield our hearts and minds from the worries and struggles of this life. God is a good God and blesses us. It’s difficult to be patient in times of trouble but don’t give up! Continue to be grateful and pray!