And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain (Matthew 5:41).

There’re those who are always legalistic in their views and approaches to life and spiritual instructions. They believe in, and demand a strict literal adherence to spiritual instructions. If you were given an instruction to invite a soul to church, for example, learn to stretch yourself beyond the limits; go the extra mile by inviting and witnessing to much more than the number you’ve been assigned.

If you were involved in a project, perhaps, in the house of God, and you were to give a thousand dollars, don’t make your contribution legalistic. Don’t see it as a donation, but as an oblation to God. Once you’ve given that amount, don’t say, “I’ve given my part, and now I’m free,” no! Rather, let the burden, responsibility and commitment for the completion of that project spur you to further action. It’s the right thing to do. It’s only when you do something totally different and incongruous with the instructions you’ve been given that there’s a problem.

In Matthew chapter 5, Jesus taught us to go the extra mile in whatever we’re asked to do. He said, “Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain” (Matthew 5:38-41). This is the life we’ve been called to live. Legalism is no gain, but there’s gain in going the extra mile.