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And Who is My Neighbor?

Jesus often taught by asking questions. He also told a good story as a teaching tool (the parables). I chose the Parable of the Good Samaritan as an example of both. This is also a message we need to hear today. It is clear, plain and needs no interpretation. All we need to do is live 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’[c]; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[d]”

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[e] 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.” —Luke 10:25-37, New International Version, Accessed from Bible Gateway.com

Dig a Little Deeper:

Who is your neighbor?

Do Not Worry

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[e]?

28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” — Teaching of Jesus from the Bible, Matthew 6: 25-28 NIV, accessed through Biblegateway.com

This should be so easy, but it is so difficult, isn’t it? From an early age we are taught we must provide for ourselves. And society tells us we are a “failure” if we do not provide not only the basic needs, but are also not wealthy in the eyes of the world.

How often do we say “I need that” when we really don’t? Wanting something because of what it represents in terms of power or prestige is not the same as needing it. When you look at our country, the United States, how much suffering do we create in other parts of the world by our greed?

Trusting that “God will provide” is not easy. This is something I know about. I have worried and fretted over not having enough and wondering how we would just survive. I have tried and tried to find ways to bring in more money, but those attempts only made matters worse. But I have also seen provision in the form of needs being met in the most unlikely of ways. When I lost enough weight that my clothes no longer fit I worried about being able to afford new clothes. Then friends started showing up with bags full of clothes. Let me tell you, God does have a sense of humor.

We have been notified by a state we haven’t lived in for 20 years about “lost money” the Treasurer’s office had been holding for us. When the grocery budget has been tight sales and discounts have been plentiful. A doctor waved his fee with no mention being made of financial hardship. I’m sure you have stories like these. These are all ways God provides, but how many times do we overlook them?

Worry is hard on the body and the mind. It makes us sick. So, isn’t it time to heed the words of Jesus, “do not worry about your life?”

Dig a Little Deeper:

How has God provided for you?

The Christian Life

“The Christian life is a life that consists of following Jesus.” ~ A.W. Pink

To learn more about A.W. Pink see:

https://www.theopedia.com/arthur-w-pink

Dig a Little Deeper:

What does following Jesus look like in your life? Is your life the reflection of the Christ of God Jesus portrayed in the Scriptures, or do you simply follow the man, Jesus, while controlling your own life?

A Den of Thieves?

Today we are looking at the account of Jesus driving the money changers out of the Temple. I chose the version of this story from John 2:13-17, New International Version, accessed from Bible Gateway.com.

13 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. 15 So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” 17 His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.”[c]

John 2:13-17, New International Version, accessed from BibleGateway.com

I chose the story of this incident from the book of John because it clearly shows that Jesus was angry, to put it mildly. How does this apply today? Have we turned our churches into markets? Or as accounts from other Gospels say “a den of thieves?”

Are you saddened when you see churches being run as big businesses? Do you know of churches where the Senior pastor has the title of CEO or functions as one? Have you ever attended a church that charged for everything from Sunday School literature, to classes, to church dinners, to children’s Vacation Bible School? Doesn’t this exclude certain people? Does your church operate a bookstore where books and other religious merchandise are sold? Do you know that some churches charge for prayer or spiritual guidance?

Dig a Little Deeper:

What do you think Jesus would think about our big buildings with even bigger budgets? Would Jesus come into our churches today and start turning things upside down?

Going the Extra Mile

³⁸“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’^[h] ³⁹But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. ⁴⁰And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. ⁴¹If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. ⁴²Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.” –

— Jesus. Matthew 5:39-51, NIV, Accessed from Biblegateway.com

This is one of those difficult teachings of Jesus that we would like to cut out of our Bible’s isn’t it? It definitely goes against our Western sensibilities.

Dig a Little Deeper:

What are some ways you can go that extra mile with someone in your own life?

A life of humble simplicity

“The life of Christ was a life of humble simplicity, yet how infinitely exalted was his mission. Christ is our example in all things.” —

Ellen G. White

Dig a Little Deeper: How can you follow Christ in a life of humility and simplicity? Think of specific things you can do.

:) To Share in the Life of God

“However, as the Eastern churches have always maintained, through Christ creation is intended eventually to share in the life of God,

the life of divine nature. ” —John Polkinghorne

Dig a Little Deeper:

This is a high spiritual goal, to say the least. How does one experience sharing in “the life of God”?

:) Blessed are you when people insult you…

11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. — Jesus, Matthew 5: 11-12, NIV, accessed from BibleGateway.com

This goes along with the last section on persecution. How do you react to words you perceive as insults? It’s hard not to feel hurt, rejection or anger isn’t it? If those words are lies and are accompanied by other mistreatment it gets even harder.

Living in this world is not easy, especially for those who are “different.” We have seen so far in our study of Jesus that if we follow his teachings and way of life we will be different. The world will not understand us. We will we ridiculed, lied about and mistreated,, but… We are in good company. Jesus himself and those who have followed him beginning with the original disciples have all gone through this. Some have given their lives for the teachings.

This is why we can rejoice and be glad. By standing against the ways of the world we are standing with that great throng throughout time who have endured the harshness of this world to follow a higher and greater way.

Dig Deeper: How do you react to insults? Is there a better way?

:) Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness

“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” — Jesus, Matthew 5:10, NIV, accessed from BibleGateway.com

Let’s face it, living a righteous, Godly life has never been easy. There has always been opposition. The prophets suffered greatly for their calling. John the Baptist, Jesus and many others were murdered for their faith. Early Christians met in secret because of the persecution and death they faced if discovered.

Notice that Jesus did not say fight back. He said we are blessed when people insult us, make fun of us, persecute us. We are blessed (made happy) because it means we are living in a way that is different than ”the world” and people are taking notice. Persecution means others are recognizing the Christ within us.

In the world we live in now the temptation to not only fight back, but to kill and destroy the opposition is stronger than ever. Even “good church going folks” are falling prey to this. Some pastors are even telling their congregants to arm themselves. This is not the way of Jesus.

Remember we are blessed when the world turns against us. It means we are doing something right.

Dig a Little Deeper:

How do you handle persecution against your faith/”way of life?” Are you willing to take an unpopular stand to state you are for what is right? –Regardless of the cost to you?

:) Blessed are the peacemakers

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”

— Jesus, Matthew 5:9, NIV, accessed from BibleGateway.com

It seems that many Christians have trouble with the idea of Jesus as a peacemaker and even more trouble with the idea of themselves as peacemakers. After all what can one person in this world do to stop the violence and pave the way for peace?

The answer to this is simple. We stop being violent. We become peace. We live, breathe and act out of peace. One person. One kind loving act. That is how it is done. Is it easy? Of course not. But is it possible? Yes, but we cannot look at the whole big picture of violence in the world because it will be overwhelming.

No one can wave a magic wand and make all war and violence stop. But we can calm the violence and anger within ourselves. Next, we bring our families, churches, and communities together in peace. That’s how peace spreads. One person at a time.

“Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called children of God.”

Dig Deeper:

How are you making peace in your world?