Get Off the Couch

Going the Extra Mile

Some of you are carrying a sword you haven’t swung in years—you’ve got a title but no action, a house but no leadership, a wife but no pursuit. That ends today.

Are you coasting as a Christian man, or are you carrying your cross like Jesus called you to?

James 1:22 (NIV), “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”

Most men don’t break promises on purpose. We say things with good intentions, but life throws a wrench in the plan. You say you’ll be home by six, but work runs late. You promise a date night, but you’re drained. You tell your kid you’ll shoot hoops after dinner, but your phone gets more attention. You didn’t mean to fail—but it still feels like failure to the ones who matter most.

I’ve stopped making promises I can’t keep. Not because I don’t care, but because I do. Instead, I try to live in a way that over-delivers. I want to go the second mile, like Jesus said. Not just meet expectations, but exceed them. Jesus didn’t call us to barely show up. He called us to die to ourselves. That means doing more than what’s required. More than what’s expected. More than what feels comfortable.

Let me break this down for the men who think like soldiers. Picture this: You make a decision to lead your home well. That’s the starting point. Now, think about all the obstacles between that decision and actual fulfillment—distractions, work demands, emotional exhaustion, temptation, old habits. Let’s say there are six major steps, and each step has a 90% success rate. That means, mathematically, your odds of reaching 100% fulfillment drop with each step. It’s not about perfection. It’s about knowing the odds and then choosing to do more.

That’s where obedience kicks in. You don’t obey when it’s convenient. You obey because He’s King. Jesus said, “If someone forces you to go one mile, go with them two” (Matthew 5:41, NIV). That wasn’t a nice suggestion. That was a challenge to abandon comfort and pride. That was a call to rise up as a man.

We love the idea of going the extra mile for our families. But are you doing it? When was the last time you chose your wife over your phone? Your son over your schedule? Your Bible over your hobby? It’s easy to go all in for people at work or church, but going the extra mile starts at home.

Abandonment isn’t weakness. It’s the path to strength. John the Baptist said, “He must become greater; I must become less” (John 3:30, NIV). That’s not poetic. That’s war. That’s killing your pride so your family can thrive. That’s stepping up when you want to shut down. That’s saying, “I’m done coasting. I’m carrying my cross.”

This isn’t about trying harder. It’s about surrendering deeper. Sanctification means you’re becoming more like Jesus. That doesn’t happen by accident. It’s pro-active and intentional. It happens through consistent obedience. You obey when it’s hard. You obey when no one thanks you. You obey because it’s the only way to lead well.

Jesus modeled it. He went the extra mile—all the way to the cross. Even while dying, He prayed for His enemies: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34, NIV). That’s not soft. That’s power. That’s the manhood we need.

So ask yourself: Do you go the extra mile with your wife? With your kids? If you had an hour last night, did you invest it or waste it? Did you lead or did you lounge? This isn’t guilt. It’s grit. It’s truth. It’s a call to rise.

When you carry your sword, you carry a duty. Not to rule, but to serve. Not to bark orders, but to build up. If you claim to follow Jesus, then obedience is not optional. Neither is abandonement. It’s time to drop the excuses. It’s time to lead.

Today’s “Shepherding in Action” Value is Obedient Abandonment

Abandoning comfort for Christ leads to true strength and influence as a shepherd leader in your home.

Reflect / Apply / Share

1. Reflect – Where have you been coasting instead of obeying in your role as a husband or father?
2. Apply – What one area this week can you go the extra mile in your home—without being asked?
3. Share – Who needs to see a man lead with abandoned obedience? How can your example encourage or challenge another man?
   

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Bible References (NIV)

• James 1:22 — “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”
• Matthew 5:41 — “If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles.”
• John 3:30 — “He must become greater; I must become less.”
• Luke 23:34 — “Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’ And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.”
  

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Personal Prayer

Lord, break my passivity and fill me with obedient strength. Help me abandon my comfort and lead my family with bold love and truth.

My Personal Journey & Engagement Call
These weekday reflections flow from my time in God’s Word. I invite you to join me and other Men of the Shepherd in building Christ-centered homes—leading, discipling, and serving like Jesus.
If these reflections encourage you, please like, share, and pass them on so more men can grow in their calling.
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