Going The Extra Mile A Collection of Stories Matthew 5:41 If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. By Preston Harrod, 7 th Grade Metro Church of Christ Category D © 2013

Matthew 8:5-8 5 When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. 6 “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed and in terrible suffering.” 7 Jesus said to him, “I will go and heal him.” 8 The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.”

Matthew 8:10,13 10 When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, “I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.” 13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! It will be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that very hour.

J esus showed his love and power to the centurion because the man had great faith. The centurion went The Extra Mile by believing that Jesus would heal his servant. Jesus can graciously heal anyone he chooses, even from a distance, especially when people believe that he can.

Matthew 15: Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon- possession.” 23 Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”

Matthew 15: He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” 25 The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said. 26 He replied, “It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs.” 27 “Yes, Lord,” she said, “but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” 28 Then Jesus answered, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

Even though the woman was a Canaanite and not an Israelite, she went The Extra Mile by not giving up, kneeling before Jesus, desperate for her daughter to be healed. She continued to plead so that Jesus recognized her great faith. Jesus’ answer reflects his primary mission in the world, his saving grace is for all people. Her comment in verse 27 impressed Jesus and so he rewards her faith by healing her daughter.

I n both the story of the centurion and the Canaanite woman, each teach us about the grace of our Lord and about the faith of people who are in need. His grace will be given to all who believe. Do you believe?

A Challenge How could you go The Extra Mile for Jesus? It could be helping your neighbor, being involved in a service project to help make a difference in your community, providing a meal to someone in need, spending time in prayer for someone you know who may not believe. One act of random kindness at a time can change the world when you go The Extra Mile. We need to take his message of grace to the world.

The Extra Mile Artist: Lauren Talley VERSE 1 Two hundred miles away A storm had just blown through Before the sun came up the next day The church was on the move With so many hurting left with nothing of their own That’s when the people of the Lord opened up their homes VERSE 2 At a Wednesday night church meeting A prayer request was made For a husband and a wife whose vows were just about to break And when they said amen that evening The Spirit stirred some friends To drive across that little town to go and pray with them CHORUS Love goes the extra mile and gives itself away It reaches to the broken ones to help restore their faith Till the lost are redeemed Till every heart is reconciled Yeah love goes the extra mile BRIDGE It never plays it safe It goes on unafraid