When I was younger, my family had a little book on the coffee table by Sam Parker called 212: The Extra Degree. The basic premise of the book went like this,

At 211° water is hot. At 212°, it boils. And with boiling water, comes steam. And with steam, you can power a train. The one extra degree makes the difference.

 The main purpose behind the book was to encourage you to make the extra effort - to increase your production or hustle by an extra degree - so you can accomplish more amazing things in your life than you ever thought possible.

I was just thinking about that little book today when the Lord brought a passage of Scripture to mind. In Matthew 5:38-42, Jesus speaks about the retaliation passage from Exodus 21:23-25. He says that it is really about a deeper point, which is that God was setting up a system among his people that people were treated fairly and were protected against exploitation. But, if people would just show love to everyone around them, even if they are trying exploit them, the culture would be totally different! Translation: Love everyone, no matter who they are. Talk about mind-blowing! Fleshing it out, he says,

But I say to you, 'Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him to miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.

I truly believe that if every Christian took seriously the command of Jesus to go the extra mile, we would see something happen that would shake the foundations of our culture and leave everyone in awe of the grace of an amazing Savior. Just like it only takes that extra degree of heat to unlock the powerful potential of steam, it might just be that extra mile you go to love the people in your life who are hard to love that will unlock the transforming power of the gospel in your school, work place, or neighborhood.

My challenge to you today is this:

1. Ask God to bring someone (or some group of people) to your mind who is really hard to love (even though they desperately need love).
2. Gratefully remember how unlovable you were to God when he saved you.
3. Ask God to fill you with love for this person (or people).
4. Make a plan to show love to them in a tangible and personal way.

When you do this, you will unleash the glory of God into your culture and, over time, you will transform it.

Dare to go the extra degree!

This is a poem I wrote for my fiance to give to her the day I proposed.

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I imagine myself

In the future afar

In an old wooden office

And my door ajar.

I am typing away

With a bad writer’s block

When out at the door

Comes a soft, saddened knock.

A sad, youthful chap

Mopes in kind of slow.

No spring in his step,

His head hanging low.

When asked, “What’s the matter?”

He let out a sigh,

And said to me slowly,

“I don’t understand why…”

“Trouble with the lady?”

I asked knowingly.

“How do you love mom

So romantically?”

I just sat there

As I thought for a while,

Until finally

I said with a smile,

“Son, there is a lot

That I don’t understand -

Like a flower in bloom;

Or how life began;

Or the way that whenever

I come up with a plan

It fails, and I’m struggling

To do what I can.

You see, there’s a lot

That I don’t understand,

But none quite compares

To this Quest of a man:

Loving a woman -

I’m learning a whole lot -

Not the greatest knight

In all Camelot,

Would be up for a Quest

So brave and so bold.

I’m learning some things

Even though I am old:

To love a woman,

You must let her go.

Love must mean action

Not merely a show.

Leading her is more

Than simply a title.

I must rule myself

Or I’ll make her an idol.

To love her like Jesus

Means giving up myself.

There’s no time for pride -

Feelings go on the shelf -

Like straining myself

To go the extra mile

To inspire some romance

If only for a smile;

Trying to cheer her

Even when I feel gloomy;

Or help with her homework,

Kind of like her roomie;

To make time for her,

Sacrificing my plans;

To love her and earn

The respect of a man.

I don’t understand

How simple this sounds

But for some reason

I’ve only figured out

The way to her heart

No science can tout,

But pure, patient love

Day in and day out.

Son, love is a verb.

It walks and has feet.

It’s not about you.

Your will you must beat.

Around every store,

And with ever fashion,

You’ll hear loud and clear:

“Love’s about passion!”

While it’s partly true,

It misses the point.

Commitment and effort

Give love its joints.

Your love will die

Without dedication.

Love is a lifestyle

Without a vacation.”

And if that weren’t enough,

I added just one

Concluding advice

For my disheartened son.

“I cherish Christine,

As I have all these years,

Because Christ loved me first

And calms all my fears.”

And though it was rather

A hard pill to swallow,

I saw him embrace

A brighter tomorrow.