None of us likes to be told what to do.
If it’s our idea, we will bend over backwards to do it, but if you tell me to do it, you can drop dead.
This was the wisdom in Jesus’ teaching to go the second mile.
If a Roman soldier approached a citizen and requested help carrying his pack, the citizen was obligated to carry it a maximum of one mile.
As you can imagine, most soldiers would take full advantage of the mile.
As you can also imagine, most citizens only did this begrudgingly.
At the one mile mark, the pack would be abruptly dropped and the citizen could go about his or her day.
Jesus took this daily dilemma and used it to teach the citizenry how to find freedom in obligation.
When we do only what we are obligate to do, we tend to begrudge the requirement.
But if we are allowed to serve to our hearts desire, we find freedom.
I may have to carry your pack one mile, but every step I take after that one mile is a step I take by choice.
Now, you aren’t making me do anything, I am serving by choice.
Joel Stiff's Adventure 