THE GOOD SAMARITAN part 2
Greetings in the name of Jesus:
We studied Luke 10:25-37 concerning the Good Samaritan in the last blog, however, I wanted to draw the comparison a little more in the lives of those who claim Christ, and those who actually live out Christ in their lives.
This can be very graphic for some of us who just want to sail by life on the other side without getting involved with the dirt and difficulty that really helping people can bring to our lives. We all prefer a clean life when we profess Jesus, and yet as we get into the sinful live of others and try to help them understand what they need as we preach Christ to them many of the members of the church will put us into the same category as those who are in trouble just because of our association with them. It is unfortunate that we have lost the ability to really love as Christ loved because of the fear that we may be seen "unclean" in some way by those who share our faith in Christ.
This is another push and prod from Jesus to keep us centered in who it is we came to Christ to speak to and serve in the Spirit of God. Is it to those who claim to be healthy; or is it to those who are sick? Jesus never questioned those who were in Spiritual need...He always reached out to them knowing that it was their lives that He came for. Today we need to reconsider the things we say we believe in as we compare them to the tenancy to live as though we were a part of the world instead a part of the church. Jesus was often accused of being dirty by the church of His day because of the same traditions that we have of not touching anything unclean for fear that we might be seen by this world as real people instead of plastic. While it is true that to keep ourselves shined up we are fit to be set as an example of what it is to be displayed for the world to look at it is also true that we can do much good in helping to clean the rest of the world until we are willing to get dirty. It is hard to give your dog a bath without getting wet just a little. The traditions we have in our churches are largely due to the actions of the leadership within the church who have become fearful that they may be seen as unworthy men and women if they get too involved with those people whom God has really sent them to serve and love.
We are all called to do as Jesus did which means that we eat with Publicans and sinners in the same ways He did but without sin. I you think that is impossible to do then realize who you eat with in a day, and who you associate with in business deals all of the time . It is those publicans and sinners that you have been called to give your testimony to. The accusations of others that you are dirty to is just another way of suffering for the cause of Christ. In many ways I would rather be in a church filled with publicans and sinners than those who think themselves already worthy of Christ in their own minds and hearts.
I believe in a great way that thought was what Jesus was telling those who passed by on the other side...may you richly bless God through your life in Him.
THE UNWORTHY SERVANT
We studied Luke 10:25-37 concerning the Good Samaritan in the last blog, however, I wanted to draw the comparison a little more in the lives of those who claim Christ, and those who actually live out Christ in their lives.
This can be very graphic for some of us who just want to sail by life on the other side without getting involved with the dirt and difficulty that really helping people can bring to our lives. We all prefer a clean life when we profess Jesus, and yet as we get into the sinful live of others and try to help them understand what they need as we preach Christ to them many of the members of the church will put us into the same category as those who are in trouble just because of our association with them. It is unfortunate that we have lost the ability to really love as Christ loved because of the fear that we may be seen "unclean" in some way by those who share our faith in Christ.
This is another push and prod from Jesus to keep us centered in who it is we came to Christ to speak to and serve in the Spirit of God. Is it to those who claim to be healthy; or is it to those who are sick? Jesus never questioned those who were in Spiritual need...He always reached out to them knowing that it was their lives that He came for. Today we need to reconsider the things we say we believe in as we compare them to the tenancy to live as though we were a part of the world instead a part of the church. Jesus was often accused of being dirty by the church of His day because of the same traditions that we have of not touching anything unclean for fear that we might be seen by this world as real people instead of plastic. While it is true that to keep ourselves shined up we are fit to be set as an example of what it is to be displayed for the world to look at it is also true that we can do much good in helping to clean the rest of the world until we are willing to get dirty. It is hard to give your dog a bath without getting wet just a little. The traditions we have in our churches are largely due to the actions of the leadership within the church who have become fearful that they may be seen as unworthy men and women if they get too involved with those people whom God has really sent them to serve and love.
We are all called to do as Jesus did which means that we eat with Publicans and sinners in the same ways He did but without sin. I you think that is impossible to do then realize who you eat with in a day, and who you associate with in business deals all of the time . It is those publicans and sinners that you have been called to give your testimony to. The accusations of others that you are dirty to is just another way of suffering for the cause of Christ. In many ways I would rather be in a church filled with publicans and sinners than those who think themselves already worthy of Christ in their own minds and hearts.
I believe in a great way that thought was what Jesus was telling those who passed by on the other side...may you richly bless God through your life in Him.
THE UNWORTHY SERVANT
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