Go with him twain

Go with him twain

Matthew 5:41  "...and whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain".

Caesar had instated a law that the Roman government could press any Jewish person into carrying a load for up to a mile.  So, if they (Romans) were lucky, they could go mile-to-mile 'enlisting' person after person to bear their load.   I can only imagine how this would make someone feel.  The Jews weren't just waiting around to serve the Romans... their lives didn't revolve around them.  They had lives, work, things to do, places to be.  And the Romans could at any time force them to walk an entire mile in any direction.  Imagine how incredibly inconvenient that would be, especially if you were in the middle of doing something or going somewhere.  Of course inconvenience was probably laced with feelings of anger, frustration, and being degraded and devalued. 

And then Jesus lays this down, that if anyone compels you to go a mile, go with him two.  I don't think we have to think hard to realize that two miles is more inconvenient than one.  It takes you further away from where your life and your interests are, and takes you away for a longer period of time.   So, from this we can take with us a simple command:  choose compassion over convenience.  Bear the load of others, and go with them further than what's required or expected.  Allow yourself to venture further away from your own self interests for the sake of another. 

Sounds simple, but maybe not so easy.

Remember Lot's Wife

Remember Lot's Wife

Luke 9:57-62 tells us of three consecutive conversations Jesus had with individuals who desired to follow Him:  

"And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee withersoever thou goest.  And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
And he said unto another, Follow me.  But he said, suffer me first to go and bury my father.  Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.
And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.  And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."  (KJV)

What strikes me here is how unapologetic Jesus is.  And it may sound funny, but what also strikes me is how serious He is.    He makes it absolutely clear the cost of following Him.   Following Him is not necessarily an act of convenience.  It does not allow us time to pack an overnight bag with items which will make us feel safe, secure, or give us comforting thoughts of what we left behind while we're on the journey.   Leave NOW.  Or don't.   Following Christ is a decision of Today... not tomorrow.   And if we should wait, if we should look back, we are not "fit for the kingdom of God."   Hard words, or just Truth?


Luke 17:32 says, "Remember Lot's wife."  We know that as Lot and his wife fled from the judgment and destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah they were instructed not to look back.  And Lot's wife disregarded those words.   She looked back to her old life.  She looked back upon what God led her away from.   Perhaps with sympathy, perhaps with a longing to return, perhaps questioning her decision to leave and walk this 'new path'. 
We learn that as she looked back she essentially received judgment and turned into a pillar of salt. 
Remembering Lot's wife causes us to remember that to not "look back" is not merely a suggestion.  It's a command, and it's for real.  And, again, as Jesus tells the man in chapter 9, those who "look back" are not fit for the kingdom of God.  

That brings me back to how unapologetic Jesus is as he tells people this stuff.   And that's because the Kingdom of God is not a kingdom of compromise.  Follow Jesus with everything you are, or not at all.   And should we just proclaim that we wish to follow Christ and leave it at that?  We see in the scripture that Jesus is not satisfied with our 'lip service'.   He doesn't want our words, He wants our hearts... our lives.  For though our redemption is a free gift, given through Christ; the cost to follow Him is great.    Are you willing?

And yes, we're not perfect and won't be until heaven.  We haven't 'arrived', and shouldn't pretend we have.  And so I am thankful for the unconditional gift of grace and mercy as I follow my Messiah, my Rabbi.   But I only experience the sweet taste of grace and mercy as I press forward with my God.  As I re-orient my eyes straight ahead.  And walk. 

Finished with Luke.  We're on to the book of John.   God is good!