Wednesday, January 20, 2016

January 21, 2016

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 your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live. But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 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.  A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 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. 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.’  “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”  The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” Luke 10:25-37

When you make a bold claim as we do at FredWes when we proclaim “We love you to LIFE” you’d better know what you’re doing!

In answer to a semi-serious question from a self-righteous lawyer Jesus told a compelling story of what it looks like to love someone to life!

Over the next few posts I want to unpack five lessons to be learned from the Samaritan who loved this dying Jew back to life!

The first thing worthy of notice is so simple you may overlook it but that gets to the heart of this truth, the Samaritan didn’t overlook the injured man. So, the first step in loving someone to life is to see them. Loving starts with a loving look!

A priest and a Levite passed by this beaten man and both saw him but overlooked his need. They didn’t see his wounds as worthy of their time or attention.

The Samaritan looked at him and SAW his need! Loving this badly beaten man to life began with a loving look. He saw with his heart not just with his eyes.

Have you ever visited a church and you felt like no one saw you? They may have stared at you or they may have looked past you but they didn’t really see you.

How did that feel? You didn’t go back did you?

When you walk into a Christian fellowship shouldn’t you expect to be noticed, acknowledged and engaged?

Loving people to life begins with seeing them! If it’s what you want then shouldn’t it be what you give to others?

Will you remember how it felt when you weren’t noticed?

Will you ask God to help you see people today?

Determine to look at them not past them.

Acknowledge them with a smile or a nod.

Loving people to life begins that simply or it could end that abruptly.