Category: QuietTimes

Today I read through Luke’s recalling of the parable of the Good Samaritan. The man who was beaten had been walking from Jerusalem to Jericho; a distance of about 17 miles and the road descends more than 3,000 feet. It is the kind of wild country in which robbers might well be safe.

As the story goes, the man was left “half dead”. When the first traveler (a priest) came by the man, he walked by on the other side. This is likely because the man on the the road being half dead might appear to the priest as ‘dead’ and for the priest to touch him would make him ceremonially unclean (Lev 21:1ff). In this case ceremonial cleanliness won the day over assisting a man in need.

Next a Levite, also concerned with ceremonial purity, went by on the side as well; avoiding the man in need of help.

Then to the astonishment of the reader, in view of the traditional bitterness between Jew and Samaritan, a Samaritan was the last person who might have been expected to help. But this man had compassion on the sufferer. He attended to him as best he could on the spot. He put the injured man on his own beast (meaning the Samaritan would have to walk) and then checked him into an inn and cared for him further. When the Samaritan needs to leave, he gave the inn keeper 2 dinari for his trouble told him to take care for the man…if more money was needed, he would pay the inn keeper when he returned. According to the historian Polybius, a man could secure accommodation in inns in Italy in his time (c. 150 BC) for half an as a day, i.e. 1/32 of a denarius. If rates in Palestine at this period were at all comparable, the Samaritan was paying for about two months’ board.

Application:

If I am being truthful with myself, I can’t be sure I would stop and help; I hope I would. What Jesus is saying to the lawyer in this story is that caring for others goes above sacrament. Care for our neighbor is the second most important command after “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength”. I have made one of the top two goals at work to “invest in people” but I feel convicted to take this a step further.

All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” Luke 10:22 [ESV]

I LOVE this! It is through Jesus and only through Jesus that people come to know the Father as He is.

When I look back on my life as a believer, I can see that I could never have known the Father until I had the Son IN me and I IN Him. When I read God’s Word and the Living Word speaks to me through the interpretation the Holy Spirit gives me, I am able to see the character and person of God. I see His mercy, kindness, grace, love, and holiness. This knowledge leads to a Fear of the Lord because I have been given a glimpse of the Father through the person of Jesus.

Application:

It is only through a consistent closeness with Jesus that I can know the Father. There is a really important word in the verse above -> “Chooses”. Jesus has to Choose to reveal the Father to me…this needs to become part of my prayer routine…to ask Jesus to reveal the Father. The more I know God in all three persons, the more I will live with my view and focus on the hope of Heaven to come. I will also be more aligned to what the Lord’s direction in my life.

First day back to work after vacation and it was definitely a case of “the Monday’s”. Working to get back in the rhythm of normal daily life. Yesterday’s sermon on “Green Pastures” by Pastor Steve was exactly what we needed returning from a good vacation away but looking toward the busy couple of weeks ahead. Marianne’s photography business is doing very well and she is almost full up with work for this summer’s Senior Portraits run. On top of that we are coming up to seeing Bella off on a world wide missions trip for 6 months and the rest of the kiddos starting school…however, that also means its Football Season!

My reading today was Luke 10:13-20 where Jesus talks about unrepentant cities and the cost of rejecting His gospel when it comes by way His messengers. My focus though was drawn to these verses:

And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”

Luke 10:18-20 [NKJV]

As the 70 returned from their missions that Jesus sent them out on, they were talking about all that they were able to do in Jesus’ name; including the demons being ‘subject to them’. Jesus talks to them about this ability and power He has given them but then He is quick to remind them not to let this go to their heads…no, rejoice in that their reward and security are in heaven. Jesus wants their attention to be on the things that last rather than the earthly things. Even the people they prayed over and saw delivered from demons would still one day pass-away. Jesus wants His church’s perspective to always be centered on pointing people to the hope of being with Christ forever. There is work to be done and God gives us the calling and wisdom to execute the building of His Kingdom here on earth….but we should ever have our view in our windshield be the life in heaven that is awaiting us.

Yesterday when I was catching up on my reading, I noticed verse 26 of Luke 9.

For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels. Luke 9:26 [NKJV]

One of the things that has always impacted me regarding the ‘Fear of God’ has always been this fear that I would be in a state of sin the moment when Jesus returns. Think about this – for you it might be a road rage incident where you come unhinged on another driver. Maybe a moment where your frustration with your children has caused you to lose your temper (Eph 6:5).

In any circumstance where I lapse in my self control is a moment that Jesus might return and be ashamed. Now, I am not ashamed of Jesus or His words, but I can be flippant and not respecting of His commands on my life if I refer to myself as a “Follower of Christ” yet allow my sinful flesh to entertain the things the Lord tells me to flee; then I run this risk.

God give me the strength and perseverance to embrace everything it means to be sold out to your Son. Thank you for the grace You have extended me.