Ill get the next one... There is a phenomena that happens among Christians, especially after the newness of salvation wears off...we can become stagnant, lackadaisical and insensitive to the needs of others. When we see somebody in need, if our response is that we are too busy, in a hurry, or Ill get the next one, we may be denying God in the process, who may have led us to this place, at this time, to be the answer to this persons prayer. Or, we may be there at the time when the person is most open to the gospel message, when their very life may be saved, when an act of goodness may finally break the hardness of their heart toward the Savior...and if we will not stop, then who will? There is a parable in scripture, recorded in Luke Chapter 10, where pious individuals saw a man in need, and rather than help, they crossed the road to avoid even a proximity to the man who had, in this case, been beaten, robbed and stripped of his clothing. After the Priest and a Levite avoided the opportunity to help, a Samaritan stopped and not only cared for the mans immediate needs, he assisted the man to shelter and paid for his short term care so he could recover. The Samaritans in this time were not even considered holy by those who considered themselves holy, yet in this instance Jesus used a relative non-believing person to speak of the need to be a good neighbor, to exemplify Christian character. We are called to love our neighbor as ourselves, it is listed second to loving God in Mark 12:30,31. Jesus saw the insensitive nature of long time believers who had lost their way, and had forgotten that we are called to share our blessings to better each other, to build a strong and thriving community of faith and good will, and not just at Christmas and Easter. Only when we are humble enough to consider ourselves of a low enough nature as to have a responsibility to care for all of Gods children, may we truly understand the nature of Christ, who emptied himself to become a servant, humble unto the point of death (Philippians, Chapter 2). Remember, one day it may be you that is beaten, naked or poor, be the person you would pray to be walking down the street when you are at your lowest point. _____ The first question which the priest and the Levite asked was: If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me? But the good Samaritan reversed the question: If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him? ---Martin Luther King, Jr. Do not waste time bothering whether you love your neighbor; act as if you did. --- C.S. Lewis Flatter not thyself in thy faith in God if thou hast not charity for thy neighbor. ---Francis Quarles Learning how to love your neighbor requires a willingness to draw on the strength of Jesus Christ as you die to self and live for Him. Living in this manner allows you to practice biblical love for others in spite of adverse circumstances or your feelings to the contrary. ---John C. Broger _____ Philippians 2:1-8 ESV, So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Mark 12:30,31 NIV, Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Luke 10:30-37, Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii[a] and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”
Posted on: Sun, 28 Sep 2014 00:01:34 +0000
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