Extra

God calls us to prioritize what is truly important, and to make His goals our personal aim.  2nd
Timothy 2 states:
22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
23 But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife.
24 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient,
25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth...

We can set priorities in accordance with God's call and instruction.  And, we can commit ourselves to making the time to do what is truly important to Him.  We can make time in the Word and in prayer paramount in our lives, and even though our schedules may have to be arranged or our predetermined plans altered, we can be challenged to follow His desires for us.  We may be called to do what is extra, so that He will get the glory.

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In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus talked about the level of commitment we can show as believers in Christ; to possess and act on sacrificial love and to perhaps go to great lengths in pursuing what is important.  In Matthew 5, we see:
40 If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also.
41 And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.
42 Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.
43 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'
44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you...

I came across a heartwarming story that communicates how we are sometimes called to go above and beyond in our endeavors.  We pick up the story of Rich and Julie Morgan, who became fans of a pizzeria in the city of Battle Creek, Michigan, according to Faithwire - they would go to the restaurant every payday.

This was 25 years ago, and Rich and Julie, in the meantime moved to Indianapolis, about 200 miles away.  This is key to remember!  According to the article:

...the couple’s recent plans to return to their favorite eatery were thwarted when Rich was rushed to the emergency room. The news was bad — Rich was coming to the final stages of his drawn-out cancer battle. So, in an effort to bring him some comfort, Julie’s father, David Dalke, asked if the pizzeria could arrange to send the couple a card.

Dalke talked to manager Dalton Shaffer, who asked what kind of pizza he liked.  The story relates:

When he clarified that Julie and Rich were 200 miles away in Indianapolis, Shaffer simply replied that he would arrange a special delivery for a 16-inch pepperoni and mushroom pizza that very night — he would be driving all that way to personally present the couple with their favorite order.

In the Facebook post included in the article, Julie wrote, "And so, while Rich and I slept, at 2:30 AM, Dalton rolled into our driveway, left the car running and delivered two extra special pizzas to my waiting family. He told them we were in his prayers, and offered to help in any way he could. My dad offered to put him up in a hotel, but he refused and immediately left for the return trip home because he had to work the next day."  Oh, and Steve's Pizza - doesn't deliver!

The Faithwire story says that Dalton told the Battle Creek Enquirer:  “I just wanted to do that for them...I just wanted to make them happy.”  Shaffer's uncle, Jeremy Shaffer, owns Steve's Pizza.  Dalton said he was hoping that people “could keep that family in mind and pray for them.”  Faithwire states: "As for Julie, she said she was 'beyond overwhelmed' by Shaffer’s wonderful show of kindness."

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus spoke about doing more than is necessary.  Throughout His ministry, He talked about concepts related to possessing a charitable spirit.  We can examine our own willingness to extend ourselves for the sake of what is important - and Biblical.

Sometimes doing the right thing can be inconvenient.  Do you fail to obey God in the little things simply because we think we don't have the time?  We will make time for the things that are important to us.  We will be called to pursue God's will, and that may be a detour from our own best-laid plans.

We can consider, do we fail to take advantage of opportunities that we have because of our schedules?

One of those important things, I believe, is to be involved in the process of voting.  Today is Election Day - you have to wonder, how many people don't vote because it is inconvenient or they think their vote doesn't count?  And, Christians have developed a reputation for sitting out elections.  A press release from My Faith Votes refers to comments from its Honorary Chairman Mike Huckabee on his weekly television program:

Gov. Huckabee, who serves as the Honorary National Chairman of My Faith Votes, began the segment by pointing out that 25 million registered faith voters sat out the 2012 election. For perspective, Barack Obama was reelected by roughly 5 million votes, an outcome that could have been very different had more Christians voted, Huckabee implied.

Possibly 50 million Christians who are registered to vote may not participate in the 2018 midterm elections, according to Jason Yates, who said that some “just don’t feel like their vote matters or that their faith should play a role in politics.”

My Faith Votes challenges Christians to pray, to think, and to vote.

Bishop Harry Jackson was also on the program.  The press release continues:

Religious liberty, support for Israel and pro-life issues ought to drive a Christian’s vote, said Jackson, who declared, “if we thought differently, voted differently, we’d impact this nation differently, and it would be even more the shining beacon of light that it already is.”

Huckabee made the bold statement that if Christian voters would actually turn out in record numbers they would control the outcome of “virtually every election.”

James Dobson writes on his website:

Powerful social movements and passions are "blowing in the wind," and most of them have dangerous implications for the institution of the family, religious liberty, our children and unborn babies, and the country at large. The Ship of State, on which we all are passengers, is steaming into uncharted waters, and the midterm elections occurring on November 6 will determine its course for decades to come. That's why my letter this month conveys a single urgent message. Christians must go to the polls next month and let their voices be heard! Turnout will determine the outcome. What will you do about it? Will you sit out this election? God help us if you and I fail to fulfill our moral responsibility.