We sometimes have our moments and we serve the Lord fervently. And then after we have served him for a while, we want our break and even if others come and might want help or are in need... well... they can wait. I have done my duty, right?

Consider this passage in Luke 17, 1 Jesus said to his disciples: "Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come. 2 It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.

3 So watch yourselves. "If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. 4 If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, 'I repent,' forgive him." 5 The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!"

6 He replied, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you.

7 "Suppose one of you had a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Would he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, 'Come along now and sit down to eat'? 8 Would he not rather say, 'Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink'?
9 Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? 10 So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.'" (NIV)

I like this little passage. Things are getting worse as Jesus goes on. I mean every body understands, that you should not cause others to sin, right?

But then Jesus goes on about forgiveness! I mean not just once a day or so... seven times a day. May be you don't find this difficult. But the Apostles did! They said basicly...

"Oh Lord have mercy! Increase our faith! Help us Lord! What? We have to forgive seven times the same stuff and this in only one day!"

Everybody has somebody that he finds may be a bit difficult. Have you never realized that in every job you take you have that one (or more) person that hits your weak spot... But you know, this stage is only about forgiveness. First you learn to not be a stumbling block to others. Good start. Than you learn to forgive! Awesome. And now you are ready for the next step.

You will learn to be a real servant! Oh Hallelujah! The Apostels were probably shocked after this message! Can you imagine. Here they come, the great Apostles. And now Jesus tells them to be servants and not think so big of themselves when they have served a bit... juhuuuu... heeeelllllloooooooo? What?!

Often God sends me people when I am weak and tired and do not want to do anything else then just hang there and chill out! After all the work I have done, I have a right to chill out right? I mean... there should be a little reward at some stage right?

Well, sometimes I think this is just a little system we have grown up in, especially in the west. We deserve a reward after a long days work and especially if we have done it for the Lord, right? Well the Lord does not seem to think so. It is only our duty...

I know he is giving us a reward and is pouring out his blessing over us again and again. But today I want to challenge you. Are you ready to go the second mile, although you have already served him all day long? Are you willing to put your agenda aside and just fullfill the will of your Master if he pleases so?

You want to go to the next level? Great! Go and run the second mile! Go and do the will of the father and be like Jesus... "Lord, not my will... but yours be done!"