RYR 9 “The Extra Mile”

In the book of Matthew most of us are very familiar with what we have come to call the Beatitudes. Blessed are… is a message that is spoken of in the pulpits all over the world. Yet, within that very same chapter, if any of us would read it to the end, we would find a principle that very few speak about, let alone choose to apply to their lives. It is a principle that I have come to believe is one of the most powerful after the power of love.

Maybe it is an extension of the principle of love, or maybe it is love that is acted out. But what this principle does, for the one who fearlessly applies it, is nothing more than astounding, amazing, take your breath away kind of an experience.

Some Christians, I am convinced, choose not to apply this principle for the fact that they would rather suffer or miss a blessing themselves than to stoop so low as to bless their enemy. It’s an arrogance that is truly astonishing, given the fact that we have been given everything in this life. Yet, God, too, shows that He knows just how most of us are when He compares this seedy attitude to the brother of the prodigal son. Even though he had everything, when he saw his father blessing “that sinner” it brought out the true heart of many of us who claim to be Christian—a follower of Jesus.

Hopefully I have gotten your attention and you will open your heart up to embrace one of the most powerful principles, which begins with—not resisting evil.

Jesus said: “But I say to you, do not resist him who is evil; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone wants to sue you, and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. And whoever shall force you to go one mile, go with him two” (Matt. 5:39-41).

It is natural, for each of us to resist evil when it comes against us. It is not natural to turn the other cheek, but to make sure we get in the next blow. But this, my beloved believer, is not the way Christians (followers and disciples) are to react.

“To sum up, let all be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil, or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing” (1 Pet. 3:8).

Though our hearts should be capable of living this principle out, shouldn’t we, just for the sake of wanting to walk as Jesus walked, “For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps . . . and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously” (1 Pet. 2:21–23), be agreeable and at least try to follow His example since He took the time to die for us?

God, simply because He is so good, also chose to attach a blessing when we refuse to respond in the flesh by resisting evil or dishing it back. But like all promises, there is a condition that needs to be met. If you have not yet read A Wise Woman, you may not be familiar with this principle and accuse me of something that is not true since no one can earn salvation. However true this is, there are simple conditions that create our blessing or put us in the right position to receive it, even if the condition is simply to accept it. Here are a couple taken from A Wise Woman:

Condition—“Believe on the Lord Jesus . . . Promise—and you shall be saved” (Acts 16:31).

Condition—“Delight yourself in the LORD . . . Promise—And He will give you the desires of your heart” (Ps. 37:4).

Promise—“. . . God causes all things to work together for good . . . Condition—“to those who love God. . . to those who are called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8:28).

The condition or key to receiving our inheritance, our blessing, is that we must go beyond and give a blessing or more than is asked of us. Here is what it says.

“But I say to you, do not resist him who is evil; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone wants to sue you, and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. And whoever shall force you to go one mile, go with him two” (Matt. 5:39-41).

“…not returning evil for evil, or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing” (1 Pet. 3:8).

Over the course of a little over one year, God has put me in the position of receiving so many unbelievable blessings that occurred as a result of some type of evil that came against me, that I not only did not resist, but each time sought a blessing to give my perpetrator. In most cases it was my ex-husband, which most find the most difficult person not to fight with.

Yet is doesn’t have to be a spouse, or ex-spouse, or even a family member whom you bless when they send evil against you, this principle works with each and every evil that is thrown your way!!

And if just receiving a blessing weren’t enough, God tells us that we will get double the amount we deserve from what we lost!! Let me tell you, too, that if you bless your enemy enthusiastically, you will find blessings ten times what was lost just because God loves to bless a good heart: someone, anyone, who will display the right attitude!

“Instead of your shame you will have a double portion, and instead of humiliation they will shout for joy over their portion. Therefore they will possess a double portion in their land, everlasting joy will be theirs. For I, the LORD, love justice, I hate robbery in the burnt offering; and I will faithfully give them their recompense and make an everlasting covenant with them. Then their offspring will be known among the nations, and their descendants in the midst of the peoples. All who see them will recognize them because they are the offspring whom the LORD has blessed” (Isa. 61:7–9).

Longing to be gracious to you. “Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you, and therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you For the LORD is a God of justice; how blessed are all those who long for Him” (Isa. 30:18). Not only does God bless you when you bless your enemy, but the most amazing phenomenon is that any hurt or anger or bitterness is immediately, yes, immediately gone. Just recently I have found that the instant I determine to bless that person, joy takes over my heart! What a way to live!

Casting out fear. “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear…” (1 John 4:18). There are so many silly and also real fears that try to stop you from giving to your enemy. However, the more that you experience the amazing love that the Lord wants to shower and surround you with, the more that perfect love, the love that wants to give never seeking to receive, enables you to continue to give and be blessed.

There is a vicious cycle of troubles that most people live in day in and day out. This is not the plan that God had for us as believers. He was clear about how we needed to live in order for us to be happy, blessed, and outrageously joyful, but instead we either live ignorantly of His principles or choose to follow the selfishness and reasoning of the people in the world.

Even non-Believers who live the principles regarding giving and blessing enemies reap the joyful and blessed life. It doesn’t take understanding the principles, nor more than someone would need to understand fully how electricity worked. If you tap into it, it works!

Walk this way. “Your ears will hear a word behind you, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ whenever you turn to the right or to the left” (Isaiah 30:21). Rather than trying to figure out how I am to bless my enemies, I always choose to ask the Lord. More often than not, the blessing just flows out of my mouth and I hear it at the same time that my enemy hears it. Other times, I simply ask, and an idea pops into my mind. Then I run with it while things just fall into place. If they don’t fall into place I simply surrender the plan to the Lord and allow Him to orchestrate it.

Let me warn you that the enemy will do everything in his power to stop you because his entire nature is that of a thief. And the longer you wait to obey, the harder doing it is. Your mind will start to reason and fear often comes in. The other negative of waiting is that you might be tempted to tell someone what you “plan” to do. Big mistake. Speaking from experience that other person will try to stop you. Therefore, when you know how God wants you to bless your enemy, do so, and then share it with others.

One of my most outrageous blessings happened when in one day I was hit with a double whammy. First I found out that my ex-husband would not file an addendum to the divorce papers that would remove a judgement against me. The judgement, I was told, was worse than filing bankruptcy. When he told me “God told him not to clear my name” I knew that I would be blessing him in some way. Rather than panicking, I have come to get excited KNOWING that it means double the blessing!! When you see it the way God tells us, and believe, then it not only takes the fear out, but it also brings the expectancy in!

Just minutes later my oldest son told me the news that his dad was getting married, so I knew there must be another blessing ahead. That night I just gave it to the Lord and waiting for Him to show me what He wanted me to do. About three in the morning I woke up with the most outrageous thought that I thought had to be God because I would never, ever think of anything so crazy. But just to be sure, I told the Lord I would dismiss it, but if it were Him, that He would have to speak it to me again in the morning.

The morning not only brought that thought, it was even wilder than what He had first laid on my heart. Since it was early, too early to call my ex-husband, I knew I had to stay in my room because I would be too tempted to share it with one of my children who, I knew, would try to stop me.

At eight in the morning, I made the call. First I told my ex-husband that I had gotten his message about not clearing my name, and that because of it, he would be receiving a check by courier at noon for forty thousand dollars. This was the amount of the judgement that was to be paid five years later. The first blessing.

Then I was able to congratulate him on his engagement. I told him, if he would allow me, I would love to bless them by paying for their honeymoon using the points I had for flights and a week at a resort. My ex-husband couldn’t speak. When he did he asked me to repeat what I’d said. I did. Then as he was about to dismiss the offer, I quickly said, “Just ask your bride and get back to me.”

A few days later I heard back that they’d take the flight points, but not the resort. It wasn’t until years later I heard the she had a sister living there who had already invited them to stay.

“Come here and listen to me! I'll pour out the spirit of wisdom upon you and make you wise”! —Proverbs 1:23

“My beloved is mine, and I am His… When I found Him whom my soul loves; I held on to Him and would not let him go…For I am lovesick.” —Song of Solomon 3:2–4; 5:8

“‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.’”—Jeremiah 29:11

“That men may know from the rising to the setting of the sun that there is no one besides Me. I am the LORD, and there is no other, The One forming light and creating darkness, Causing well-being and creating calamity; I am the LORD who does all these.”—Isaiah 45:6–7

 “Instead of your shame you will have a DOUBLE portion, and instead of humiliation they will shout for joy over their portion Therefore they will possess a DOUBLE portion in their land, Everlasting joy will be theirs. For I, the LORD, love justice, I hate robbery . . . And I will faithfully give them their recompense And make an everlasting covenant with them.”

“Fear not, for you will not be put to shame and do not feel humiliated, for you will not be disgraced; But you will forget the shame of your youth, And the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more.

“For your Husband is your Maker, Whose name is the Lord of hosts; And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel, Who is called the God of all the earth.

“'For the Lord has called you, Like a wife forsaken and grieved in spirit, Even like a wife of one’s youth when she is rejected,' Says your God"–Isaiah 54:4-6

"Instead of your shame you will have a double portion, and instead of humiliation they will shout for joy over their portion. Therefore they will possess a double portion in their land, Everlasting joy will be theirs. For I, the Lord, love justice, I hate robbery...and I will faithfully give them their recompense and make an everlasting covenant with them. Then their offspring will be known among the nations, and their descendants in the midst of the peoples.

All who see them will recognize them, because they are the offspring whom the Lord has blessed.  Isaiah 61:7-8

Due to being not just willing but excited to offer this, I recounted what happened while traveling around the world and each time it got the attention of whoever He led me to share it with. Like my cab driver who slammed on His brakes and whipped around in his seat to stare and me and shouted, “Why?!?! Why would you do that?!?!” And each time I would simply answer whatever He led me to say.

“Do not worry beforehand about what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but it is the Holy Spirit repeatedly speaking through you.”—Matthew 10:19, Mark 13:11, Luke 12:11

The cab driver continued yelling, “But he cheated and stole and hurt you! Why?”

I answered, “Because, this is what the Lord did for me. He forgave me and He blessed me. Now I am able to do the same to others as He did for me” and he began to weep.

Join me as we all say, "I will rejoice greatly in the Lord, My soul will exult in my God; For He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. For as the earth brings forth its sprouts, and as a garden causes the things sown in it to spring up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations"—Isaiah: 61:7-11

Testimony: Going Beyond Myself

Wow is God good!!! I give him absolute praise for what God is doing in my life, in my (former) husbands, and our family’s lives!!

Well, God presented me with a test... my husband told me that his nephew was being baptized on the Sunday that was my visitation Sunday, and that he was going to be gone the next weekend (his weekend) to Minnesota for his cousin’s wedding and wanted to talk about switching weekends with me.

My husband has very little custody of our twenty-month-old and never has her overnight, so what you are about to read is a HUGE leap of faith in my Lord.

Before answering the weekend switch piece of the request, God urged me to COMPLETELY trust Him with my precious daughter; rather He was asking IF I was going to trust Him to be the father to the fatherless.

Without a second thought I asked him if he would like to take our daughter out of town to the baptism. His eyes lit up and he said, "I didn't even know that, that was an option!" Then I asked if he would like to take her to Minnesota the week following (not even knowing if he was going to take the OW, other woman, with him).

God was telling me to trust in Him and NOT what I was seeing in the flesh! Two weeks prior, he had taken the OW to his hometown to meet his family and friends. Can I tell you how the Lord is continually blessing me through obedience to HIM? First off, He gave me abundant favor with my (former) husband, He took care of my daughter, He gave me favor that I could have NEVER imagined with my former in-laws (who never liked me, and for good reason); so much so that my former mother-in-law wrote me the most kind and sincere letter that I have EVER received, thanking me for allowing my daughter to attend the baptism!!! WOW!!! He is SO faithful!!!

 The trip to Minnesota was a tough one. I had never been away from our little girl for that long, her father had not been with her overnight since she was 4 1/2 months old, and then there was the OW issue. God gave the strength to shut my mouth about the OW and NOT even hint around if she was going along, He stretched my faith in Him and His ability to supernaturally care for my daughter. HE gave me abundant favor with my husband and his family, and HE gave me that ability to not only be kind but to bless my husband in the process: I packed and ironed all of my daughters things, packed snacks, drinks, medicine, etc... with NO instructions (as I had done in the past... Yep, I was a real piece of work). I even made him dinner-to-go, so that he could get on the road with her quickly. He was so appreciative, and surprised!

They were gone from Wednesday to Monday (midnight). There were a few days that I didn't hear from them, in which time God had me press in to Him. When my husband was on his way home he called to tell me what time he was planning on arriving and ended up talking to me for and hour and a half!

During this conversation he told me how much his family appreciated my allowing our daughter to go up there, how they all asked about me, how his parents commented on how good of a parent I am (through the Lord's mercy and instruction!), and how my husband told them that I was happier than he has ever seen me!

 And he asked me what caused me to be so happy! What the joy of the Lord can do! He also told me that not a day goes by that he doesn't wonder about how our life would be if we remarried, and how we could have all of our dreams! God IS working!!! My husband is still afraid that the changes he sees are temporary, but my how GOD is FAITHFULLY WORKING!

I KNOW that as God is removing any remaining contentiousness, pride, self-righteousness and loudness, and replacing it with kindness, quietness, meekness, and gentleness. He is also faithfully allowing the OW to become bitter as wormwood! GOD is turning the heart of my husband as he turned the heart of the Kings!

Thank the Lord for His divine intervention and blessing me with a faithful ePartner from RMI. She has been fasting with me for three days now, and my, what agreement, prayer, and fasting can do! Praise you Lord! God is no respector of persons!!! Delight yourself in the ways of the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart (Ps 37:4). When a man's ways are pleasing to the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him (Prov. 16:17).

~ Courtney in Texas

Personal commitment: to go the extra mile. “Based on what I have learned in Scripture, I commit to going the extra mile, turning the other cheek, while doing good to my enemies. I will tap into the power He has given to me—living a life that is extraordinary—allowing myself to be a vessel for His good use.”