April 3
And Like A Good Neighbor...
And Like A Good Neighbor...
Luke 10:13-37
New International Version (NIV)
13 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14 But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. 15 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades.[a]
16 “Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.”
17 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”
18 He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. 20 However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
21 At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.
22 “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”
23 Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. 24 For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”
26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’[b]; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[c]”
28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii[d] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
****************************************************************************
Living in today's chaotic world, we have some real challenges put before us, in living out the Lord's command to love our neighbors.
As I contemplate that statement, I realize that it has been that way FOREVER....
From ancient biblical times until the present day, we humans just seem to have a hard time getting along with one another.
Because of cultural differences, generational differences, personal convictions, etc, we hold ourselves above and away those who don't agree with us.
But in God's view, what is our responsibility to humanity?
He makes it very clear, doesn't He..."Love your neighbor as yourself".
We tend to take pretty good care of ourselves. As much as is possible, when our "self" tells us we are hungry........we eat something satisfying.
When our "self" is too hot..... we try to get to a cooler place in the shade, or inside out of the heat.
When our "self" is too cold......we build a bigger fire ........turn up the thermostat on the furnace..... put on an extra blanket.
When our "self" is thirsty.... we get a wonderful cool glass of water.
That is the kind of care we are supposed to take of our neighbors.....
When we love them with the love of Christ, we will have our eyes opened and our sensitivities made more aware, of those neighbors of ours who have needs that we can meet.
Of course, as individuals, we cannot possibly meet the needs of every person, on our own. But just think of how it would change the world if each of us individually, took this very seriously.........as we should.........yes?
Ask the Lord to show you a neighbor that you can bless today........
And......God will bless you for it!
Keep your eyes ............and your heart......open!
16 “Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.”
17 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”
18 He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. 20 However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
21 At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.
22 “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”
23 Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. 24 For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”
The Parable of the Good Samaritan
25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’[b]; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[c]”
28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii[d] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
Footnotes:
- Luke 10:15 That is, the realm of the dead
- Luke 10:27 Deut. 6:5
- Luke 10:27 Lev. 19:18
- Luke 10:35 A denarius was the usual daily wage of a day laborer (see Matt. 20:2).
Living in today's chaotic world, we have some real challenges put before us, in living out the Lord's command to love our neighbors.
As I contemplate that statement, I realize that it has been that way FOREVER....
From ancient biblical times until the present day, we humans just seem to have a hard time getting along with one another.
Because of cultural differences, generational differences, personal convictions, etc, we hold ourselves above and away those who don't agree with us.
But in God's view, what is our responsibility to humanity?
He makes it very clear, doesn't He..."Love your neighbor as yourself".
We tend to take pretty good care of ourselves. As much as is possible, when our "self" tells us we are hungry........we eat something satisfying.
When our "self" is too hot..... we try to get to a cooler place in the shade, or inside out of the heat.
When our "self" is too cold......we build a bigger fire ........turn up the thermostat on the furnace..... put on an extra blanket.
When our "self" is thirsty.... we get a wonderful cool glass of water.
That is the kind of care we are supposed to take of our neighbors.....
When we love them with the love of Christ, we will have our eyes opened and our sensitivities made more aware, of those neighbors of ours who have needs that we can meet.
Of course, as individuals, we cannot possibly meet the needs of every person, on our own. But just think of how it would change the world if each of us individually, took this very seriously.........as we should.........yes?
Ask the Lord to show you a neighbor that you can bless today........
And......God will bless you for it!
Keep your eyes ............and your heart......open!
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