“If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. You have heard it said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and good, and sends rain on the righteous and unrighteousness. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?” (NIV)

Traveling the world offers unique perspectives on how different people live. When I traveled to Eastern Europe, I learned you were to greet a friend with a kiss on both cheeks, and when invited to a house, you were always to bring a drink (preferably Fanta) and something small to eat. When I traveled to East Asia, it was impolite to stare someone in the eyes, point with one finger, as well as expose the hair on one’s head. I even remember getting scowled at once when I touched my feet while sitting on the floor.  

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When you're in a new culture, you learn the rules pretty quickly so as not to offend. Yet here we have Jesus, God in the flesh, addressing the Jewish culture, and it’s offensive! Jesus sets the record straight: he gets straight to the heart of the Jewish law and the intent behind the law. But he doesn’t stop there, Jesus sets the bar even higher.  

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The Jewish people living under Roman occupation were obligated to comply with a law that forced them to carry a military soldier’s gear for up to one mile. You can imagine the bitter resentment of the Jews towards the Romans. And now Jesus is telling them to go another mile?! Jesus continues with instruction to not only go beyond what is required, but also on how to treat others in your heart. It's one thing to suck it up and do something kind for someone whom we don’t like or even resent, but to wish them goodwill and love them in our hearts? Impossible!

This ask seems counter-intuitive because, when we love and pray for our enemy, there is no immediate reward that spurs us on. The world says to love and serve others so that people will see your good works and be praised; Jesus says to serve, not for an immediate reward, but out of our identity as “sons of your Father in heaven.”  

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Jesus’ ethic is completely counter-cultural. When we leave the world’s ethic behind in exchange for the way Jesus calls us to serve, we serve out of his power and strength. That is his whole point; we need him to change us from the inside out. Anyone can muster their own strength and do the minimum requirement - but to keep going, to have enough margin to love someone who feels impossible to love, well, that’s got to be supernatural.  

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I can’t say I have any “enemies,” but I can think of people whom I would grumble at serving. My intent would be to do the bare minimum and move on. But what if I miss out on God’s way of transforming my heart to be more like him? What if there was a real and tangible reward, not here on Earth, but in Heaven?

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How about you? Is there an “enemy” that you need to pray for, someone in need, or a service that you know would be a thankless job? Ask Jesus to give you his supernatural strength and ability. Ask the Lord to show you his eternal perspective and to fix your eyes not on earthly praise, but on a reward in Heaven.  

Lord God, I praise you that even while we were sinners you died for us. Out of your love and compassion you still came to serve and give beyond what was required. Help me, Lord, to pray for those I don’t want to pray for. Help me, Lord, to serve where it is thankless and remind me that you are working on my heart. Amen.