Verse of the Day - weekend 10/17

Through the Bible - Isaiah 65- Jeremiah 3, 2 Thessalonians 3 - 1 Timothy 1

 

Good morning,

Yestereday we considered hope and being prepared to share the reason for the hope that is in us.

 

Sometimes, we become so busy in our lives that we hardly have or take the time to share this hope.  As you reflect on Jesus life you realize that he was a busy person but many of his miracles were performed, many of his greatest lessons were taught when he was interrupted by someone with a need.  He didn't blow them off, I don't recall ever hearing him say, "I'm too busy" come back later.

 

Helmut Thielicke made the following sobering statement, "anybody who loves must also be prepared to have his plans interrupted".  

 

Think about that.  1 Peter 3:15 told us that we were to be prepared to share the hope that is in us, but are we ready, are we prepared to have our plans interrupted?

 

You are probably familiar with the parable of the good Samaritan.  Who was willing to have his plans interrupted?  Who did Jesus say was the neighbor, not the local people of the town, but someone else on a journey, a despised Samaritan.  Jesus continues to ask the same question of us every time we read the parable, every time we have the opportunity to be interrupted with an opportunity to show compassion.

Luke 10:36 "Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?" Jesus asked.

37 The man replied, "The one who showed him mercy."

Then Jesus said, "Yes, now go and do the same."   NLT

In a sermon on this parable Thielicke stated, "Who Jesus Christ is you learn from your imprisoned, hungry, distressed brothers.  For it is in them that he meets us. He is always in the depths.  And we shall draw near to these brethren only if we open our eyes to see the misery around us.  And we can open our eyes only when we love.  But we cannot go and do and love, if we stop and ask first "Who is my neighbor?".  The devil has been waiting for us to ask the question; and he will always whisper into your ears only the most convenient answers.  We human beings always fall for the easiest answers.  No, we can love only if we have the mind of Jesus and turn the lawyer's question around.  Then we shall ask not "who is my neighbor?" but "to whom am I a neighbor?.  Who is laid at my door?  Who is expecting help from me and looks upon me as his neighbor?  This reversal of questions is precisely the point of this parable."

 

If I am honest, I must admit that I've accepted, I've chosen the most convenient and easiest answers all too often in my life.  But if we are willing to go into the depths with someone, in the midst of their need, our eyes will be opened, and we will see Jesus, and hopefully they will see Jesus.   We will have the opportunity to see Him at work in the situation.

 

My hope and prayer this morning is that we would be prepared to be interrupted.  Be ready to serve, to consider "to whom am I a neighbor?"  May we realize:

 

Everyone needs compassion,
Love that's never failing;
Let mercy fall on me.

Everyone needs forgiveness,
The kindness of a Saviour;
The Hope of nations.

Saviour, He can move the mountains,
My God is Mighty to save,
He is Mighty to save.

Read the parable below.  How does it speak to you this weekend?  How is Jesus speaking to you?

 

Notice also that this parable leads right into the account of Jesus meeting Martha and Mary, another lesson on being "too busy".

In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV

Luke 10:30-38

 

Parable of the Good Samaritan

 

30 Jesus replied with a story: "A Jewish man was traveling on a trip from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road.

 

31 "By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. 32 A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side.

 

33 "Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. 34 Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. 35 The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, 'Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I'll pay you the next time I'm here.'

 

36 "Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?" Jesus asked.

 

37 The man replied, "The one who showed him mercy."

 

Then Jesus said, "Yes, now go and do the same."   NLT