You will be like a tree planted by living waters, bearing fruit in season (Ps 1:3). If you’re like this tree then God is like the soil. He is the source that keeps you rooted and grounded. He will provide everything you need to live a life that bears good fruit. • Bearing fruit Fruit bearing is the result of being connected to the Source. The only way for a tree to bare fruit is by staying attached to the soil because all the required nutrients will flow through the root system to the tree. God is your source of life. You can find stability and be rooted in the truth that Jesus has made a way for you to be reconnected to the Father, and that He is now going to take care of you. • Encountering the Good Samaritan. Jesus told a parable that will help you understand how He made it possible to live a life that bears fruit. Luke 10:30 Then Jesus answered and said: A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you. 36 So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves? 37 And he said, He who showed mercy on him. Then Jesus said to him, Go and do likewise. • Traditional interpretation When I grew up I often heard this parable being explained along the following lines: “Don’t be like the thieves, because that’s just plain evil. When you see a person in need, dont be like the Priest and Levite either. They acted selfishly and only thought about themselves. Be like the Samaritan. H acted selfless and helped his fellow man in need. Now go and help others!” That’s the interpretation I often heard. There’s nothing wrong with being reminded not to live a selfish life but instead to help others in need and to be generous. But if you think about it, generosity really comes pretty naturally. Think about children fro example. Give a toddler some candy and before you know it he or she will be going around wanting to share their candy with any other kid or person close by. Giving is inherent in the heart of a child, but as we grow older it’s easy to just become focused on our own needs and wants. Hearing a message that says you are supposed to be like the Samaritan could then make you feel guilty for not being more generous. And then generosity can become an obligation. Or you start feeling guilty for having something and for not doing more for others. Guilt and condemnation is never a good motivator. It makes you self-focused and then you often do things for others mainly to remove that feeling of guilt or obligation. But there is a better way, and I believe that the parable Jesus told has some hidden truths that could trigger and motivate that inborn desire to be a blessing to someone else. Let’s explore the story a little more in depth to find out why Jesus released us to “go and do likewise” after He shared this parable. • Who is this half-dead man? Luke 10:30 A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. The man in this parable represents all of humanity. Rom 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Mankind “went down” and “fell” from the state of glory that God created them in. After the fall Adam became a “half-dead” man. His spirit died when he got disconnected from God, but his flesh still remained alive. Like the man lying on the side of the rode, Adam was left struggling to survive. We are all born into this “half-dead” state. All human beings are in desperate need of help. But we cannot help ourselves. We need divine intervention! • Who are the thieves? Luke 10:30 …fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed… The thieves represent the agents of darkness. Mankind was deceived by satan in the garden, and ever since then the deceiver and his demonic forces have been attacking God’s creation, wounding mankind and leaving the multitudes lost and lonely. But there’s some good news! The thieves were not able to kill the man. In the same way satan cannot destroy you today either. Regardless of where you find yourself in life right now, there’s always hope. There might have been many things in your past that tried to obliterate you, but God’s mercy kept you alive! • Who are the Priest and Levite? Luke 10:31 Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. Both the Priest and Levite in this story represent the old covenant of law. Please note that neither was able to provide any assistance. The law is quick to point out mankind’s faults and shortcoming, but it is powerless to offer any help or lasting change. Hebrews 7 shines some more light on this. Verse 11 points out that under the “Levitical priesthood… people received the law…” Verse 12 states that the priesthood had to change, and therefore the law had to change too. Verse 15 says that “another priest” arose to usher in a new priesthood. The old system and covenant was temporal because it could not safe man. God knew mankind needed a different solution, and that’s what He promised. • Who is the Samaritan then? Luke 10:33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. Jesus is the Samaritan! This revelation gives a whole new meaning to this parable. (It might be difficult at first to see why Jesus, born a Jew, would refer to himself as a Samaritan, but open your mind to these various symbolisms and allow this new truth to bring peace in your heart.) • During that time period of biblical history the Samaritans were outcasts that were completely rejected by the Jews. In the same way the Jews also rejected Jesus. John 1:11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. • The Samaritan “came where he was.” This is a picture of Jesus, the Son of God, coming down from His throne in heaven to where mankind was, becoming the fully human Son of Man. This is really the beauty of the Christmas story. When we were down and out, wounded and naked, harassed and helpless, God came to us! Rom 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. • “…he had compassion…” Who else came and showed true compassion to mankind other that Jesus? Mat 9:36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. • “…he bandaged his wounds…” Jesus came to heal us of all our wounds. He first heals us spiritually by regenerating our spirit and giving us life again, and then He continues to heal our emotional, mental and even physical wounds. Jer 30:17 For I will restore health to you and heal you of your wounds, says the Lord. • “…pouring on oil and wine…” Throughout scripture oil represents healing and the anointing, and we know that wine represents the blood of Jesus that makes us partakers of the new covenant of His grace. Is 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound… 3 To give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning… • Who is the innkeeper? Luke …he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, Take care of him’… If Jesus is the Good Samaritan that came to you and me in our lowest place and in our lowest state, picked us up, cleaned us up, healed our wounds and took as to a safe place where we can recover and grow strong, the surely the innkeeper has to be the Holy Spirit! Jesus came to earth to restore mankind back to life, but when He left He did not leave us alone. He sent us a Helper, the Holy Spirit. John 16:7 It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. The Samaritan paid for all the man’s expenses. More great news is that everything Jesus did for us have already been paid for on the cross! The Samaritan promised to return, and in the same way Jesus told us that He will also return. And when He does return He will pick up the bill! We do have an eternal hope and we can look forward to Jesus’ triumphant return, but while we’re living here on earth we don’t have to live as “half-dead” people, beaten up somewhere on a desolate road. The Samaritan gave the man a better way of life, and so did Jesus for us. I believe that the inn symbolized the New Testament church, the Body of Jesus Christ. Through faith in Jesus’s redemptive work we have been checked into “The Inn”. We now have access to the fullness God’s kingdom here on earth. It’s available to everyone that’s lying out on the road. They simply have to believe and trust in Jesus to pick them up and bring them to a place of God’s full provision. You’re no longer trying to survive on a dusty road somewhere. You have been given access to everything that Jesus has already paid for. The menu at “The Inn” includes things like “Living Water, New Wine, Quail & Manna (aka Bread of Heaven), Fish & Loaves, Meat, Milk & Honey” etc. And most of it is served buffet style (aka eat-as-much-as-you-like) because of the finished works of Jesus. Ps 34:8 Taste and see that the LORD is good. Oh, the joys of those who trust in him! • Once you’ve received, you’re enabled to release what’s inside of you. Luke 10:37 Then Jesus said to him, Go and do likewise. You can only give what you’ve received yourself. Jesus gave you everything you need for your new life in Him, and now you’ve been empowered by the Holy Spirit to go and do the same to others. If you think about it in light of this new revelation, instead of going out trying to be the Good Samaritan to others in need, our calling is really just to introduce others to the Good Samaritan and watch as Jesus picks them up, heals their wounds and restores them to life and life in abundance. Now the concept of generosity and serving others takes on a whole new meaning. The motivation changes form feeling obligated to having a desire to share what you’ve already received. Yes, God can use us as instruments through which the healing, restoration and provision flows, but we can rest in the truth that He is the Healer, Provider and Redeemer and every person needs. We just become channels of His love, grace and mercy. If you ever find yourself worrying about your finances, career, health, family or other circumstances, just read this story again and picture Jesus coming to pick you up, pampering you to health, and restoring you. The more you think about what He has done for you the more your mind, heart and emotions will be flooded with and overwhelming sense of peace, gratitude, confidence and trust. He will never leave you, nor forsake you! • Prayer for Financial Peace This is our prayer for you when it comes to the area of your personal finances and stewardship: - We pray that the Lord will remove all fear when it comes to your personal finances. - We pray that the Lord will awaken within you a divine desire to be generous. - We pray that the Lord’s abundant nature will come alive in you and be visible around you. Blessings
Posted on: Mon, 03 Nov 2014 17:17:46 +0000
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