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A bit longer title than usual, but I figured I’d give you a warning for what you are in for if you should read this. Now understand, I’m not completely computer illiterate . . .but my dear husband bought me a new, faster computer, and installed it for me last night. This morning I awoke as usual, made coffee as usual, meditated on my morning verse as usual (today’s was Philippians 2:5 — have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus – should have seen this coming) turned on my computer as usual, sat down to listen to “my programs” (Revive our Hearts, Renewing Your Mind, etc.), and . . .no sound coming from the speakers on my monitor.
Just so you have more of a clue to my “mindset” — I tell my husband I am relatively easy to please. In a car, it can be any color, any number of doors, any make, as long as it is automatic transmission, and when I turn the key in the ignition, it starts. In home remodeling (which is his continual pasttime) I just want the toilet to flush when I turn the handle, and the water to run when I turn on the sink. In computers, he can do whatever he wants to do to add bells and whistles — I just want the computer to turn on when I push the button, and when I go to a website and push (play audio) the familiar theme songs comes lightly playing through the speakers.
So . . . as the no sound came blaring through. . . my coffee cup almost empty. . .I decided to get a refill, and repeat Philippians 2:5 there and back. Maybe it was a fluke. I tested the sound again. . .unless I have suddenly turned deaf (and I know I haven’t because I can hear the ‘tap tap’ of the keyboard as I type) there is still no sound.
My routine interrupted. . .Philippians 2:5 running through my brain . . .and my thinking this past week about the realities of living as a Romans 12 Christian. I should have known better; God almost always has me “relive and relearn” those things I attempt to teach. I am getting better; I didn’t get my husband out of bed at 6 a.m. to “fix it so it works when I push the button.” I didn’t flare up with anger or frustration, and didn’t just stare to “will it to work” (at least not too many times).
Isn’t it amazing how easily we can trust God and depend on Him to give us the right attitude when dealing with the “big stuff” but totally “lose it” on the little, really insignificant stuff? Seriously, this little inconvenience is not worth two minutes of my time! When my hubby gets up, he will gladly fix the situation (as I recall, he even said when we went to bed last night, “I didn’t get the speakers set up,” and I replied sleepily, “hmmmm, ok,”) I can listen to my programs later, and, due to the miracles of modern technology, today’s programs will be there tomorrow!
Back to Romans 12. . .verse 9 says, “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.” (ESV) Genuine love; 1 Corinthians 13 love; fruit of the Spirit love (Galatians 5); patient love; kind love; self-controlled love. Definitely not “pitching a fit because my routine was interrupted.”
Again, I have a choice. Today, this morning, I choose to relax and read my Bible first instead of listening to “my programs.” I choose to love my husband and be grateful for his spoiling me with a new computer. I choose to “not think of myself more highly than I ought to think” (from Romans 12:3) as though I deserve to have things my way when I want them. Because the Holy Spirit gives me a “new mind” I don’t have to do things the way I used to do them. I can choose now; I choose to submit my will to God’s will; I choose to love; I choose to wait.
And, John 15:5 rings in my mind and ear and heart, “. . .apart from Me [Christ] you can do nothing. . .” And so I remember, the only reason that “I” can choose, is because of Christ, because He paid such a bloody price for my sinful choices. Oh, Lord, thank You for the cross!
Another refill of coffee. . .comfy chair in the living room. . .Bible and pen in my lap. . .it is a good day!
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 and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ (Luke 10:33-35 ESV)
In sharp contrast to the upstanding citizens, the priest and the Levite, enter the Samaritan. A Samaritan? A half-breed, wrong-worshiping, don’t even eat with Samaritan? If Jesus wanted “shock value” to grab the attention of the lawyer, this was certainly a qualifying example.
This Samaritan was not “lying in wait” as one of the bands of robbers. He was traveling; he was going somewhere. He had his own “to do” list. However, he not only saw the broken, bleeding man; he had compassion on him. He went to him, applied what first aid he could on that narrow, dangerous road, and then put the man on his own animal and took him to an inn. Was the nearest place for comfort and rest for the wounded man on the Samaritan’s way, or did he backtrack? This certainly was an interruption; whatever plans the Samaritan had needed to be delayed in order to provide care for this man in need.
The Samaritan stayed the night with the wounded man. He didn’t just “dump him” either; he paid the innkeeper to see to the man’s recovery, with the promise to reimburse whatever expenses incurred when he returned. I wonder if the Samaritan was a regular tenant of the inn. Was the innkeeper a personal friend?
Did you notice that the Samaritan didn’t consider the status of the man; he only saw that he was in immediate need of help, and the Samaritan was “at the right place at the right time” to help him. I’m sure the Samaritan had no idea whether or not he would ever be repaid for his kindness and generosity. In this story, that was not a consideration; the need was evident, he could meet the need, end of debate.
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.” (Luke 10:36, 37 ESV)
Here comes the penetrating question; the question that forces the lawyer to “choose” whether or not he really believes what he knows and says. The question is just as penetrating today, isn’t it?
What is my “mercy level?” Am I generous with mercy (remember, mercy is undeserved) or do I consider the worth or merit of someone before I decide to be merciful? Note: the man in the parable was truly in need. I’m not promoting indiscriminate use of the time, energy and money God has given.
Do I raise up my eyes and “see” those truly in need? Am I so focused on my travels, my agenda, my plans, that God is not allowed to interrupt and use me to bless another?
Lastly, does my life and my worldview and the way I spend my time, energy and money line up with what I say I believe? Am I like the lawyer, full of knowledge but willing to compartmentalize God’s Word and His clear commands? Am I like the Samaritan, misjudged by many, but willing to be compassionate and merciful?
Heavenly Father,
It is impossible to love You with all my heart and all my soul and all my mind and all my strength. It’s impossible for me to love my neighbor as myself. My heart is so self-centered! I desperately need the Holy Spirit’s help; I am so grateful for the new life and the new heart that You have given me when I trusted in Jesus as my only salvation.
Lord, help me to see interruptions as divine appointments. Give me more compassion for the broken and the wounded. Give me eyes to see this world with Your eyes. Most of all, give Me a heart to show the world what a Wonderful God You are.
I love You so much,
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. . .” Luke 10:30 ESV
The opening of this parable reminds me of an opening scene to “Law and Order,” except the police have not yet arrived. Is this how Jesus will answer the lawyer’s question of what must be done to inherit eternal life, by describing a gruesome crime leaving the victim clinging to life?
I’m wondering. . .who is “the man,” and why was he a target of robbers? The road from Jerusalem to Jericho was a common route; it was also notorious for raids and robbings by bandits. Was this man a tax collector, and the robbers thought he was carrying money for Rome? Was he a rich merchant, carrying his wares from one city to another? Was he an upright Jew? Was he a scoundrel?
The text doesn’t say who “the man” was, but he was most likely a Jew. I think not knowing makes a good point. Jesus doesn’t emphasize the man’s income level or place in society, and He doesn’t show partiality to my income level or popularity or education or abilities. What Jesus cares about is my heart, and that my life is devoted to Him.
“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.” Luke 10:31, 32 ESV
How long did the man lie, broken and bleeding, on that road? Did he have no hope? Did he cry out to God for mercy and deliverance? Can you imagine his relief to feel footsteps on the path, to hear a voice — and then his despair at being ignored in his time of great need? And this poor, broken, wounded man, barely clinging to life, experienced this pain of rejection and dismissal not once, but twice! Do you think he was aware enough to know who was ignoring him? Do you think he knew they were two men who were supposed to care for the poor and the suffering?
Have you experienced this man’s pain, if not physically, then emotionally? relationally? I have. Broken by life, beaten up, looking for someone to care, to notice. Only to find that “the church” (the priest and the Levite) didn’t want to take the time; they just “passed by,” refusing to interrupt the routine of surface relationships and programmed encounters. If you, dear reader, are feeling like “the man,” you need not despair any longer. There is hope. Jesus does notice you; He has stopped to help you. Reach out to Him.
I’m challenged as I think about the priest and the Levite in this story. There is no mention of their being corrupt, horrid individuals. Each one was obviously on a specific trip from one place to another. The road between Jericho and Jerusalem was not a “walk in the park.” It was a narrow, steep road, and often dangerous. But they didn’t even slow down! They just crossed the path to the other side, so as not to trip on the poor man! How callous!
But wait. In our aim to accomplish our daily “to do” lists, how many wounded and broken people do we ignore on our way? Their wounds may be invisible, their broken lives only seen in the tired eyes and lack of smile. Am I even aware of the people that God has put in my daily path? Do I see them? Do I care?
Before finishing the story, I want to think about how I can be more aware of the people God places in my path. When I do cross paths, may I not be like the priest and the Levite, who crossed by on the other side; instead of avoiding them or giving them some lip service or lame platitude, may I take the time to apply some salve with an honest prayer and a hug or handshake; may I be willing to give a cup of cold water (or hot tea or coffee or cocoa) and sit and listen without judgment or criticism.
The Parable of the Good Samaritan
And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He [Jesus] said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” And he [the lawyer] answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” And He said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.” But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
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 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.” Luke 10:25-37 ESV)
For many of us, this story Jesus told brings back memories of flannelgraph figures, and the priest and Levite who were too busy to help a wounded man on the path. I remember one scene with a path that was narrow, with mountains on one side, and a steep cliff on the other. The Levite and the priest had to step over the wounded man to continue on the path.
Some recent events in my life have caused me to think again of this story. I’m trying to look at it with new eyes, to really put myself into the events and the purpose. Jesus “only did the will of the Father,” (John 6:38); Jesus was purposeful and intentional with every word, every story, every miracle, every step He took throughout His time on earth.
Why choose a story about a priest, a Levite and a Samaritan, and a man mugged by robbers, to tell to a lawyer who asks Him about eternal life? Jesus knew the question was meant to be used against Him later; Jesus drove straight to the man’s heart. A lawyer was also a religious expert; he knew the Jewish law from left to right (couldn’t resist, sorry)
Actually, the lawyer answered well. Jesus also summed up the law in this way elsewhere in the gospels. But, instead of asking Jesus, “how do I love God with all my heart, soul, mind, strength?” he asks, “who is my neighbor?” That question must be one of the most “hair-splitting” questions of all time! To ask Jesus, after having recited correctly the “greatest commandment,” to define exactly who he should and should not love is, frankly, absurd and insulting!
I really like John Wesley’s Notes on the Bible:
10:27 Thou shalt love the Lord thy God – That is, thou shalt unite all the faculties of thy soul to render him the most intelligent and sincere, the most affectionate and resolute service. We may safely rest in this general sense of these important words, if we are not able to fix the particular meaning of every single word. If we desire to do this, perhaps the heart, which is a general expression, may be explained by the three following, With all thy soul, with the warmest affection, with all thy strength, the most vigorous efforts of thy will, and with all thy mind or understanding, in the most wise and reasonable manner thou canst; thy understanding guiding thy will and affections. De 6:5; Lev 19:18.
Before continuing on with the story, I think I will meditate on “the greatest commandment” for a while. My God is certainly worthy of my most intelligent and sincere, affectionate and resolute service. . .
