How to be a "Good Samaritan"

How fun is it to see our Lord excited about what the "babies" (maybe us) are learning in today's reading, Luke 10:21-37. 'That "rejoiced greatly" (verse 21) in Greek indicates jump for joy or leap or dance. Can you see Him dancing over us as we learn and put His truth into action?

The teaching today is an answer to the lawyer's "who is my neighbor". We all know it was the Good Samaritan who showed the kind of love that Jesus encouraged. But how was he different from the religious leaders who had detoured around half dead man.

1. The Good Samaritan was definitely not in the Jewish "in crowd". In fact he was an outcast who had probably experienced rejection.
2. Since he "felt compassion" for the hurting, he had been freed of any controlling bitterness resulting from being an outcast.
3. He was free to put effort into a likely messy business. (Anointing and bandaging bloody wounds)
4. He was free to give what was valuable to him. (The oil and the wine brought for the journey, the beast he could have ridden on, the money that seems always helpful and the time that is irreplaceable. In fact the Samaritan gave without reserve to the innkeeper, "Take care of him" - the wounded- "and whatever more you spend, when I return I will repay you.")

Jesus' parting comment to the lawyer was "Go and do the same."

Lord, give us a freely generous spirit to help those on our path today who are in need.

Wonderful Adventures

The passage for today, Luke 10:1-20, starts out with such an intriguing verse (2). Jesus is explaining the next adventure to quite a group (35 pairs) who are to go prepare the way for Him to come to the cities down the road. He says,"The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest." One version says "beseech" the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers. It opened my eyes to the need to:

1. Not just casually ask but beseech God for more laborers to share the Good News with others.
2. Also to remember that this job is "labor" not a vacation
3. That it is exciting possibly dangerous work "lambs in the midst of wolves"
4. That we can depend on God for every need (took no money, bag or shoes)
5. And we should not get distracted (greet no one on the way)
6. That it will be rewarding (the Seventy returned with joy)
7. That God will be pleased (Jesus said He saw Satan fall from heaven)

Wow, what an opportunity! Also, however our adventures turn out, we can rejoice that our names are recorded in heaven. It is a win-win.

Just passing through

The word I noticed today in Luke 9:44-62 is such a wonderful reminder to all of us, and the passage takes about three minutes to read! Our amazing Lord has started on His way to Jerusalem determined to carry out His final mission there despite knowing the cost. As they were walking, someone says,""I will follow you wherever you go." But Jesus replies, "Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."  I guess we theoretically know that we are on the same trip to eternal glory, just passing through this life. And I think as you get older, it starts becoming more real. But it is surely easy to concentrate on fixing up and investing in and worrying about the places we are "laying our heads" now.

Lord, help us to concentrate on where we are going and those we can love on the trip with us today.

Who is in charge?

What a dramatic hands-on lesson the disciples, and all of us get today (Luke 9:23-43)! The week before Jesus had given a great teaching on denying yourself to follow Him. It is just eight days later that He takes the inner circle of three up on a mountain to pray. Well, they fall asleep (sound familiar?) and as they are waking up they see a changed and dazzling Jesus. The Amplified Bible says the clothes of Jesus were "flashing with the brilliance of lightening". To top it off, He is actually standing there talking to Elijah and Moses! I bet the guys thought they were still dreaming.

Well as the guests were leaving, Peter comes out with, "Master, it's good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters, one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah"....Whoa!  Who is following whom? As Peter is babbling, a cloud comes and envelopes them with a voice that says,"This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.'

You know, not many people get that direct a rebuke from the Creator Himself. It is no wonder that they "kept this to themselves".

Lord, help us to remember that we are following You today. May we look to You for the best ideas. 

Dinner Is On

I see our dear Jesus today opening wide the door and saying, "Come on in, you are so welcome. Dinner is on the table."

I hope you have read Luke 9:7-22. Jesus gives us such an amazing example of hospitality. You see He had sent the guys out on an adventure with absolutely no provisions (not even a change of clothes or any money), and they had come back excited to tell Him all they had been able to do. So He had them come with Him to Bethsaida so they could enjoy talking about it all.  But the ever- needy crowds followed them. And it says, "welcoming them, He began speaking to them about the kingdom of God and curing those who had need of healing."

Then when it got late and the possibly impatient guys were saying to Jesus to send the crowds away so they could eat and sleep, He says "You give them (5,000+) something to eat!"  Whoa!  We find out that Jesus wants not only the crowds but also the disciples to experience what hospitality truly is. It turns out to be giving what you have and trusting God to bless - possibly amazingly!

What Jesus has to give is life. He is truly the gracious host, and we are always welcome. Dinner is on. Let's come and get it!

He REALLY Means It!

This is so interesting. Yesterday's message has returned but more forcefully. I'm thinking God really wants us to get it.

In today's passage (Luke 8:40-9:6), you just cannot escape the agony and concern of Jairus. He fell down at Jesus' feet and implored Him to come heal his daughter. But before they got to the house, a messenger came to say that she has died so no use bothering Jesus. You can imagine how Jairus' heart fell since his worst fears were being realized ( maybe thinking, "anyway why did we have to stop for that woman who had just been bleeding for a while?").

However, now it comes - the amazing reply by our Lord. "Do not be afraid any longer; only believe, and she will be made well." (verse 50). What?  Isn't it a bit too late?  But on they trudge, just to find out that when Jesus says,"Child, arise!", the twelve year old does and is even hungry.

So I keep hearing that, "Do not be afraid any longer, only believe...." What could we fear that would top the drama in this scene. I'm thinking Jesus really means it.

Gripped With Great Fear

What a wonder we see in today's reading in Luke 8:26-39. Can you just imagine the drama of Jesus casting out so many demons that they cause hundreds of pigs to stampede and drown? What a commotion! It says the herdsmen ran away and told the whole city and countryside. So, of course, the people come out to see what is going on.

But the people miss the real miracle. The real wonder is the former wild demoniac, dressed, and sitting listening to Jesus. It looks like the reason they miss it is that they are "gripped with great fear". They actually ask the Lord and Savior to leave. This was all just too upsetting.

I'm wondering if sometimes when hearing all the commotion around us (in the News and lives of others) if we are not tempted to be "gripped with great fear". It we don't turn to  our Lord and Savior, it will seem like He has left. 

Lord, help us to be more like the former wild man, dressed, in our right mind, and sitting listening to you.