Throughout my childhood and now into my adulthood, my mom always taught me to “go the extra mile.” Whether it was opening a door for an elderly person or picking up the piece of trash that didn’t make it into the trash can on the first shot. Whatever it was, I should go the extra mile to complete the task. I am 24 years old and I can hear her in the back of my mind when I am at a crossroads of a decision. (Parenting win, for sure!)
As I grow in knowledge and love of my savior, I am learning that the lesson my mother taught me to “go the extra mile,” is in the character of who God is. Our God has gone the extra mile from the very beginning of creation. As Christ followers, He continues to go above and beyond in the way He blesses us and loves us each and every day.
Ephesians 3:20 tells us that God is able to do FAR MORE ABUNDANTLY than what we could even think up or imagine! “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us.” Ephesians 3:20
When Adam and Eve fell into sin in the garden, God knew that He would go above and beyond by making a way for His creation to be saved from a life of death in hell. He knew that he would send his one and only son JESUS to live a perfect life on earth, to then die a horrible death on a cross, to pay the price for our sins. That is the ultimate example of going the extra mile, of going above and beyond.
Jesus knew that He would be rejected, hated, and ultimately killed. But still, He went the extra mile, because He knew that’s what He was called to do. Could you imagine trying to think up a solution to getting out of an eternity spent in hell? The beauty of our savior is that He doesn’t leave us to try to figure it out by ourselves… He has made a way. A clear way.
Have you accepted that gift from God? You don’t need to go through life wavering and trying to figure out life on your own. God has made it clear that you can have life and life abundantly when you chose to follow Him. You are so loved by God and He is waiting for you with open arms.
As Christ followers, let’s seek to live lives that reflect that character of God. Going “the extra mile” in all that we do. In our relationships, work, and in everything we do, let us go above and beyond. When our lives reflect and radiate the goodness of God- the world will see more of Him and less of us.
-Kayla Miller, GEM Missionary
If you’d like to support Kayla as she serves with GEM in Mexico, you can do so HERE. You can also contact her directly to talk further about what it means to be on her support team and find out how you can be praying for her!