Whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two—Matthew 5:41 

The things Jesus calls me to are impossible without His Supernatural Spirit alive and at work within me. Christ is not calling me to simply act out something but further; He is calling me to become someone different and “otherworldly” that I am not apart from Him.

When wronged, Christ expects me to do right. When hurt, Christ expects me to forgive. These are not natural responses. A smile on my face cannot cover the anger in my heart. The only thing that will persuade me in those times to act/ behave/believe in a Christlike manner is a deeply rooted personal relationship with Christ Himself.
Life will quickly become disillusioning and disorienting without a laser-like focus on Christ.

The principles of Christ, the manner in which He lived, can only be lived by Christ. His nature must be within me and I must submit to His Authority if I ever hope to become like Him. The cruelties of this world will most certainly disillusion anyone who is not focused on Christ alone. That focus of accomplishing God’s will must be the hope and life for the Christ-follower, for Christ was killed even at the hands of “good people”.

It is essential to remember that we are chosen by God in Christ. God’s grace begins His work and He alone will complete it. God will ask us to do things that are beyond our natural ability to complete. He is not interested in puffing us up to feel good about our accomplishments. Instead, He is interested in is making disciples who are fit to do His work of grace and grace is all about the cross of Christ. The cross I bear will be one Christ places me on not one that I choose for myself. Then His grace will empower me to carry it.

For more thoughts on this, read My Utmost For His Highest