Earn A Hearing
The following spoke to my heart this morning. How I was challenged of going beyond duty. If I am not careful, devotions, witnessing, calling, and loving can be solely my duty not my privilege. Today you have the privilege to serve the great God in heaven. I pray that this encourages you as it did me!
Earn a Hearing!
A man who was very zealous for the Lord started sharing the Gospel with a neighbor. The neighbor just stared, giving no response to what was being said. In fact, the unsaved neighbor was not even listening to him; instead, he was thinking about his very close friend who had been cheated out of a lot of money by the one who was now sharing the Gospel with him.
No wonder Jesus gave more severe condemnation to the religious hypocrites than He gave to the harlots, publicans, and sinners! (See Matthew 23:13.)
Imagine the foolishness of attempting to witness to a Roman soldier after refusing to carry his pack.
There was open animosity between the Jewish subjects and their Roman authorities. In fact, a popular movement was begun by the Zealots, whose primary goal was to throw off the yoke of Roman control. The situation was so tense that the Pharisees were certain that they could defeat Jesus by simply questioning Him about whether or not they should pay taxes to Caesar. If He said yes, the Jews would be enraged and leave Him. If he said no, the Roman authorities would arrest Him as an insurgent. (See Matthew 22:17–22.)
Imagine the astonishment of the multitudes when Jesus gave the command that they were to go the second mile! Imagine also their inability to carry on much of a conversation during the first mile. The Roman soldier would probably regard his conscripted burden bearer as a mere servant and would expect him to be inwardly grumbling because of the task he was legally obligated to perform.
Then imagine the total change in attitude of the soldier when at the end of the first mile his servant would say, “I would like to carry your pack a second mile.” No longer would the Jew be viewed merely as a servant, but as a friend. The conversation would have a whole new basis for significance and would no doubt begin with this question: “Why are you doing this?” The Jewish man would then be able to explain the teaching he had learned from Jesus, and because this teaching had changed his life, the soldier would be open to hearing more.
By walking the first mile, we fulfill an obligation. By walking the second mile, we earn the right to witness.
Who are the ones whom you have tried to win to the Lord, but have found to be disinterested? This was the case of a young man who tried to win his father to Christ. His father replied, “When you do the things I have told you to do, I’ll be more open to what you say you believe in.” Walking the second mile demands a change in one’s schedule and priorities, but as we serve with the motivation of love, God is free to bring about supernatural results. What second mile does God want you to travel today?
May God richly bless each of you today.
Bro. Tony
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