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Going the Second Mile: Letting God Take You Beyond Yourself
Less Effort, More Joy
What is the second mile? It’s the difference between living as a good person and enjoying life as a child of God. When you “do your best” for someone, you go the first mile. When God does His best through you, you experience the second mile. This can happen only when you let Christ in you take over and empower you to accomplish what is impossible by your natural abilities. While others see you on the first mile, they see Christ on the second. This miraculous Christian life will overwhelm you with more time, energy, and peace. You can’t help but freely give more away! Because God does not reward your duty, He blesses your relationship with His Son. It’s time to experience radical living. It’s time to enter into the second mile !
Cease to Strive…
“ If someone forces you to go one mile,” Jesus said,
“go with him two miles”
(Matthew 5: 41).
Are you obligated to serve…regardless of a mediocre attitude?
Are you supposed to be exhausted?
…So God Can Thrive
Author Mel Blackaby carefully unfolds the true meaning of Christ’s words so you will see that it’s not about you . While the world sees your good works on the first mile, they see Christ’s power working through you on the second. He carries the burden and takes you beyond yourself.
First mile living is cramped and unsatisfying. When you stride beyond it, chains fall off and freedom ensues. True rest, fulfillment, joy, and other surprising treasures become yours—when you dare to embark upon the second mile.
Story Behind the Book
“As a pastor in North America , I am amazed by how many Christians struggle with depression, anxiety, and stress. The burdens of life overwhelm them, and they pull back from serving the Lord, thinking they can’t take any more pressure. While visiting Mozambique , I went to the home of a native pastor who also works a secular job to support his life, his church, and another mission church. I was shocked at how little he had. He was giving his all to the Lord and existing on the bare minimum. As I consider his challenges, I am struck by his contagious smile. He has taken the yoke of Jesus and learned from Him; he has found rest for his soul and lives abundantly; he is walking in the second mile. I want God’s children everywhere to know the same joy and privilege that comes from serving God.” — Mel Blackaby
What is the second mile? It’s the difference between living as a good person and enjoying life as a child of God. When you “do your best” for someone, you go the first mile. When God does His best through you, you experience the second mile. This can happen only when you let Christ in you take over and empower you to accomplish what is impossible by your natural abilities. While others see you on the first mile, they see Christ on the second. This miraculous Christian life will overwhelm you with more time, energy, and peace. You can’t help but freely give more away! Because God does not reward your duty, He blesses your relationship with His Son. It’s time to experience radical living. It’s time to enter into the second mile !
Cease to Strive…
“ If someone forces you to go one mile,” Jesus said,
“go with him two miles”
(Matthew 5: 41).
Are you obligated to serve…regardless of a mediocre attitude?
Are you supposed to be exhausted?
…So God Can Thrive
Author Mel Blackaby carefully unfolds the true meaning of Christ’s words so you will see that it’s not about you . While the world sees your good works on the first mile, they see Christ’s power working through you on the second. He carries the burden and takes you beyond yourself.
First mile living is cramped and unsatisfying. When you stride beyond it, chains fall off and freedom ensues. True rest, fulfillment, joy, and other surprising treasures become yours—when you dare to embark upon the second mile.
Story Behind the Book
“As a pastor in North America , I am amazed by how many Christians struggle with depression, anxiety, and stress. The burdens of life overwhelm them, and they pull back from serving the Lord, thinking they can’t take any more pressure. While visiting Mozambique , I went to the home of a native pastor who also works a secular job to support his life, his church, and another mission church. I was shocked at how little he had. He was giving his all to the Lord and existing on the bare minimum. As I consider his challenges, I am struck by his contagious smile. He has taken the yoke of Jesus and learned from Him; he has found rest for his soul and lives abundantly; he is walking in the second mile. I want God’s children everywhere to know the same joy and privilege that comes from serving God.” — Mel Blackaby
- GenresNonfiction
176 pages, Hardcover
First published September 15, 2006
2 people are currently reading
17 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 22, 2021
Must read!!
It is so simple to demonstrate your Christian faith!
You don't have to know much, just obey Jesus directions - go beyond what a normal person will go!!!
It is so simple to demonstrate your Christian faith!
You don't have to know much, just obey Jesus directions - go beyond what a normal person will go!!!
January 14, 2013
Going the second mile is an easy to read book. The were two things which caught my attention, and clarified many things. The first one was why we must walk with Jesus. The analogy he drew about the cattle tied to the yoke made perfect sense. If we are really really here to work, and there is no way out, then we better be led, guided and share our work with the one who has all the strength, and knows exactly what is going on, and one who has all the strenght and will never get tired. Otherwise we won't succeed at anything, will get exhausted, be unhappy and depressed, and die miserable.
When the author said God has unconditional love for us but the bible never ever mentioned unconditional blessings, I laughed but later gave it a deep thought. He reminded us that "Whatever a man sows, that he will also reap - Galatians 6:7". He added that " With the measure you use, it will be measured back to you - Matthew 7:2". Then I understood that like everything else, in order to get more, you must do more, including blessings and peace of mind. Nothing for free - tough!
When the author said God has unconditional love for us but the bible never ever mentioned unconditional blessings, I laughed but later gave it a deep thought. He reminded us that "Whatever a man sows, that he will also reap - Galatians 6:7". He added that " With the measure you use, it will be measured back to you - Matthew 7:2". Then I understood that like everything else, in order to get more, you must do more, including blessings and peace of mind. Nothing for free - tough!
April 24, 2010
This book was given to me by the author, Mel Blackaby when I worked on staff with him at our church. Mel, (whose father is Henry Blackaby, author of Experiencing God), asks us to go beyond our natural gifts and talents to allow God to use us in ways that take us way out of our comfort zone. To do so means that we can say it was not "our doing" but God gets all the glory. Challenging and thought-provoking, read it followed by "What's So Spiritual About Your Gifts?" (Mel's other book) to gain the full impact of the message.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews