"Want you be my neighbor"

Luke 10:25-37

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 fell into the hands of 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, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins 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."

Here is a faithful and true saying. “Ministry will always cost you something.” Whether it is your time, money, or your life, ministry will always cost. But than that raises the question, are you willing to by the price? For two weeks I have been reading this passage in the bible just trying wrap my head around what exactly took place in this story.  So I did some historical research to grasp a better understanding of what the road looked like and where it was . The road was on the way from Jericho to Jerusalem. But the road was notorious for theft and crime because the way that it was designed. The road curved in all kind of weird ways. So you literally could not see what was around the next corner. And thieves would hide in those dark corners and jump out and rob you all the time.

Now that brings us to the nice gentleman who for whatever reason decided to go down this path. And BAM, he gets attacked. They take him for all he is worth and leave him for dead. Later on that day a preacher walks by and sees him and chooses not aid him  and crosses to the other side of the road and walks away, so I know that he noticed the man in need of help. He saw someone in desperate need of “a blessing” but maybe he was scarred of what would happen to him. Maybe he crossed to the other side to see if someone was still waiting around the corner? I don’t know, but yet again someone who works in the church came by a saw the man clinging to life lying there and he just crossed the street and went on his way, he did not want any of that action. But along comes the nobody or a guy that everybody hates and sees that man and takes action. Not only does help, he gets him all cleaned up, puts him in a hotel, and tells the manager “All of his expenses are on me and oh I almost forgot tell him I will be back later to check on him when I get back.”

Now which one ministered to the wounded man? Which one showed the loved of God? Which one acted like a Christian? Before you answer think about how many times you have walked away from the opportunity to minister. I am not talking about “I’ll be praying for you” ministry I am talking about that hands on stuff that people won’t forget.  Because true ministry will always cost you something, whether it time, money, or in some parts of the world your life. It will always costs you something. The preacher (The Priest) and church worker (The Levite) saw the need of the man but perhaps saw their safety to be bigger need or maybe they were running late for service and did not have time.  But the outcast of the church (The Samaritan) made time to minister and help. He was willing to pay the price no matter the cost.  He considered the need of someone else to be greater than his own.

True ministry is when you are willing to give of yourself so that someone else can come closer to Christ.  It takes courage to do ministry. Now this does not mean that you neglect your family and those important to you. Nor does it mean that you spend 24 hours a day in the church house. But it does mean that when God presents you with the opportunity to minister you take hold of it and do it!  Will you pay the price or walk on the other side of the road?

"Looking for a ram"

Genesis 22

Abraham had enjoyed the many years he had spent with his son Issac. I am sure he was a proud father and he had learned that the Lord is faithful to His Word. He had learned that what ever God says He will do no matter how wild or difficult the task, Abraham understood that God is faithful. But God was not done with Abraham, there was still room for Abraham to grow.

God tells Abraham to sacrifice his son Issac as a burnt offering. As crazy as it sounded Abraham was content with doing the Lord's Will even if he did not understand it. He did not tell a soul about God's commandment to him. A secret Abraham kept until the time of sacrifice. Abraham arrived at the mountain and told his servant "Me and my son will go there to worship the Lord (Genesis 22:5). I do not think Abraham was trying to deceive anyone, I think he had already determined in his heart that at the end of the ordeal he and son would praise God for the outcome. Issac seeing that there was no animal to sacrifice asked farther "Where is the lamb?" (Genesis 22:7). Abraham simply replied "The will provide the lamb" (Genesis 22:8). Abraham was confident that God would work this out and provide the lamb. He knows that God is faithful to His promise so he knew matter what it looked like or how God was going to do it, God would provide.

But the moment was upon us. The time had come and a burnt offering was required. Issac laid down and offered himself as the burnt offering (Genesis 22:9). Abraham lifted the knife and prepared to strike (Genesis 22:10). But the Lord stopped Abraham and said "You are a man who fears the Lord" (Genesis 22:11-12). Sometimes we need reassurance that we are doing the right thing. Sometimes we need to hear that we a good and Godly person. Sometimes we need a test to build us up and mature us to be more like Christ (James 1:2-4).

Abraham looked up and there was a ram in the bush. The offering that Abraham knew would be provided was before his eyes. Th time of worship he had said would happen was now happening. Abraham knew God would be the hero. He knew God would save the day. He knew that obedience to God would be rewarded. He knew that THE WONDERFUL COUNSELOR, MIGHTY GOD, PRINCE OF PEACE, KING OF KINGS, LORD OF LORDS, THE ONE AND ONLY TRUE GOD, and SAVIOR would provide. Simply put Abraham knew God and that He was faithful to the end.

So friends I urge you walk the path the Lord has lite before you with His Word and seek to do His Will because wherever the Lord leads you, tells you to do, or has you to go He will always provide (Matthew 6:33). Stay focused you can do this!

"In His JOY!"