Matthew 5:41 "whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two."   Since June 27, 2003, when I found out I had breast cancer for the first time. I STOPPED asking God why me? And ask God to "use" me.. since then I have been what I did call a "vessel" for Jesus, now a "seed planter" of God's word. THE SECOND MILE: its roots are found all the way back in first century Palestine. The Romans had conquered most of the Mediterranean world. One of the marvels of their conquest was the vast system of super highways that they had built for travel to and from their conquered territories. There were more than fifty thousand miles of these Roman roads throughout the empire. At each single mile was a stone marker. These mile markers pointed directions, determined the distance to the next town as well as to Rome itself, and warned of dangers that might lie ahead. Heaven the common phrase "All roads lead to Rome". By law, a Roman citizen or solider could compel a subject from one of the conquered lands to carry his backpack, or load, for him for one mile, but one mile only. Asjesus was preaching His Sermon on the Moutn, I have wondered if He inserted the reference about the "second mile" when He saw an object lesson unfolding before Him and His hearers. He said, "Whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two."  Jesus called upon His hearers to do what was required of them, and them some. What it is that separates some from others in athletics or education, or business in any endeavor? It is their drive to do MORE than is expected or required. The "SECOND MILE", many forget there are TWO miles in play here. The first mile is MANDATED; the SECOND mile is the MIRACLE mile...this first mile is often ignored. The first mile is REQUIRED of us. The first mile is ALWAYS the hardest. Ask the distance runner, the second wind never kicks in on the first mile. The truth is, it is NOT as easy to enjoy the things we HAVE TO DO as it is to enjoy things we WANT to do. The Christian life has its own mandated mile that is motivated by God's law. It is tough to get started on the first mile. The first mile interrupts your schedule when you are compelled to perform it. It causes you to swallow your pride and bear an extra burden. Likewise, often the most difficutl part of the Christian life is getting started on the first mile. This is true with almost everything in life,. In fact, many try to play leapfrog with Matthew 5:41, that is they want to enjoy the little extras of the second mile, but they DON"T want to deal with the requirements of the first mile. THERE IS A MIRACLE MILE MOTIVATED BY LOVE; it is this miracle mile that separates certain individuals from others. The second mile is ONLY MADE POSSIBLE by BEING OBEDIENT to the first mile. The second mile has a way of brightening our own road. Think about it. Imagine a first century boy working at his trade. A Roman solider comes by, and calls to him, and demands tha the carry his backpack for one mile down the road. Now, this command interrupts the lad's whole day and takes away form his work. But he has no choice. However, this boy is a second miler. They approach the one mile marker, and instead of putting down the pack, spitting on the ground, and marching back home, he VOLUNTEERS to go an extra mile with the solider. Along the way, he pleasantly inquires about life in Rome. The soldier is baffled. I wonder if that Roman solider at the cross who said, "Truly this was the Son of God" had had such an experience earlier with the second mile follower of Christ. Matthew 27:54 Someone who journeys on the miracle mile also has a way of lightening the load of those around them. On CANNOT travel the second mile without influencing others. It only takes ONE second miler on a team or just about anywhere to be encoruageing, kind. 'This miracle mile, the second mile, is motivated by the love of Jesus Christ. Incidentally, the second mile is the mile our Lord Himself walked. He knows the road VERY well. It was LOVE that took Him on the miracle mile to the cross. Oh, He journeyed the first mile. He stepped out of heaven and into human flesh. He walked the mandated mile that was motivated by the law. He kept every detail of the law. But He also went the second mile, motivated by His own love for us. He who made the stars, with a spoken word and formed the universe, the One Who formed and fashioned us with His own hands, said, " I LOVE YOU, and I WILL WALK WITH YOU" ....but we went our own way. Then He said ' I WILL GO THE SECOND MILE". It took Him to the cross where He bore the weight , not of a Roman soldier's backpack, but of our own sin.  And somebody told somebody, and I am telling you, so that YOU WILL NEVER BE THE SAME!   WILL YOU GO THE SECOND MILE, it will brighten your road, and lighten someone else's load. See for it is WITH God ALL things ARE POSSIBLE Matthew 19:26 GOD LOVES YOU AND SO DO I!   "PAYING IT FORWARD" now a second miler AMEN