We’ve been spending some time thinking about Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:44: “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…”

With this in mind, I have a suggestion. Go the extra inch.

Yes, our goal should be big. But let’s back up a minute.

In October 2006, a gunman took hostages in a one-room Amish schoolhouse in Pennsylvania. He shot ten children. Then he shot himself. Five of the children died. 

Just hours after it happened, people in the Amish community visited the house of the gunman’s parents to express support and concern! They knew how hard it would be for them in the wake of the shootings. At the gunman’s funeral, about half of those in attendance were from the Amish community! And remember, they were the victims! They were there to show concern, support, and to pray.*

That’s big. It seems other-worldly. Should we aspire to that? Yes. But sometimes we need to start smaller.

That’s why I say we should go the extra inch. It comes from the expression to “go the extra mile.” A mile is a long way. But an inch in the right direction is still heading in the right direction. 

The meaning is that when it comes to people who we think are somehow ‘against’ us, do the small things well. Go the extra inch. Pray for them. Be kind. Do something small but practical which helps them. 

Think of that Amish community. Do you think they learned to love like that on the spot? No. They had trained themselves in the little moments. Then when a big moment came along they simply did the sort of thing that they would have done on any other day.

Rome wasn’t built in a day. Similarly, loving your enemies doesn’t always happen overnight. It begins with prayer, and then an inch, and then more prayer, and then another inch.

It’s not easy, but it is possible.

Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

An inch in the right direction is still heading in the right direction.

Go the extra inch.

Notes:

-“Why are we supposed to love our enemies?” Click here. August 3, 2025. Sermon.

–Vacation notice: The Up Devotional will go on pause after this week, resuming September 1, 2025 (when I come back from vacation). Past episodes can be found at TheUpDevo.com, or you can listen to the podcast through Apple Podcasts, Spotify, etc. You may also want to purchase the ‘Turbulence’ book on Amazon!

-*I made a note of this story when I came across it in June 2019, but I have misplaced the original source. The story is well-known and documented.

-Bible quotes are from the NIV.