Saturday, May 2, 2015

May 3, 2015

"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’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”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 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

The Great Commandment is a tall order!

Loving people to life requires a supernatural assist!

So not only does Jesus command you what you should do but He also gives you a picture of what that should look like in the well-known story of the Good Samaritan!

Look at this Parable and learn! How did the Samaritan love this man to life?

He Saw, V. 33

All ministry begins with seeing a need and meeting it!

Someone saw your need and loved you to live, right?

Are you attuned to the needs around you?

Is there someone you could love to life in Christ?

He Stopped, V. 34

The "professional need meeters", the priest and the levite did not stop. Apparently they had more important things to do.

They illustrate and important point! In order to be more effective and available to start ministering to the needs of others you may have to stop some things that keep you from stopping!

He Served, V. 34b

This Samaritan gives us a great picture of what it means to serve. First. he treated the felt need. He cleansed the wounds with oil and wine. Think about the symbolism of that! Second, he transported him to a safer place where he wouldn't get hurt again! Third, he took care of him so he could recover and heal!

It doesn't get any clearer than that!

He Sacrificed, V. 35
It is expensive to meet needs! If it wasn't probably more people would be doing it! This Samaritan demonstrates sacrifice in this story! He shelled out two days wages, he gave up a big portion of his day and then he left his credit card to make sure future care would be provided!

Someone sacrificed for you to make sure your needs were met! Someone paid the bill for your spiritual healing!

Will you be willing to sacrifice for others?

He Stayed Involved, V. 35b

This Good Samaritan had to get on with his business but he stayed involved with this needy man over time! That is hard! That is rare! But that is what love demands!

Eugene Peterson once said, "Discipleship is a long obedience in the same direction!"

Meeting needs and loving people to life is a long-term proposition! That is why it is easier to write a check than to commit time, talents and for the long run.

Someone stayed invested and involved in your live!

Will you do it for someone else?

Wow! What a powerful picture of what it looks like to love someone to life! I worked for the Samaritan and it will work for you!

Jesus told this lawyer, "Go and do likewise."

Will you?




May 2, 2015

“On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all you mind.” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” Luke 10 25-28

You have a clear and compelling call to love others to life!

That is your purpose to leverage every acquaintance, every friendship and every relationship into loving them to life in Christ.

Jesus, later in this passage, tells a story about a Samaritan who literally loved a needy man to life.

In this Great Commandment teaching Jesus is telling you that in order to love others to life you must allow Him to love you to life.

How could you hope to love like Jesus unless you are loved by Jesus?

He loves you with all His heart so you must open all of your heart to receive His love if you want to be loved to life.

He loves you with all His soul so you must receive His love with all your soul if you want to be loved to life.

He loves you with all His strength so you need to receive His love fully into your weakness. He and His love must become your only source of strength is you want to be loved to life.

Jesus loves you with all His mind so you must allow His love to transform and renew your mind if you want to be loved to life.

Loving others to life is the result of being loved to life by Jesus!

Do you know that love?

Have you received His love fully; into all your heart, and into all your soul, and into all your weakness and into all your mind?

That is what it means to love Jesus – being fully loved by Him!

That is how you love others to life! You let His life and His love flow through your heart, soul, strength and mind!

You can’t live until you have His love and you can’t have His love until you give Him your life.

Will you do that this morning?

Will you give all that you know about yourself to all that you understand about Him?

I think you’ll love it!