The Other Side of the Road

 Many of you are familiar with the account of the "The Good Samaritan" but for the sake of those that are not, I have provided the following scripture reference:  Luke 10:29-37 KJV.

The entire point of Christ's answer to the lawyer, is simply this; your neighbor is anyone that you encounter along life's journey. And you are to love that person in the same manner in which you love yourself. 

My previous post deals with the traveler and the thieves. This post will target the religious men that saw the traveler, passed by him, and went on their way. It is saddening to recognize the parallel that exists between this pair of religious men and many of today's ministers. However, it is not my aim to point out the flaws of various ministers, but rather, it is to cause you to take inventory of your own motives and actions.

We can glean from verses 32 & 33, the fact that both the priest & Levite were traveling along the same side of the road as where the robbed, beaten traveler lay. And the scriptures are clear that these two saw him and crossed to the other side of the road. They did not want to engage with him in any way. And certainly, they did not want to become "unclean" by reason of any physical contact that might occur, if the beaten man was, in fact dead. See  Leviticus 21:1-4 . 

In other words, the priest and the Levite were more concerned about reaching their destinations "clean", than they were about rendering aid to a poor soul that had been robbed, beaten, & left for dead. Perhaps  they were on their way to Jerusalem to minister. If that was the case, then they simply could not afford to become unclean; else they would have to forfeit their ministering for seven days. See Numbers 19:11. And that would prevent them from receiving any offering/compensation for that days's labor.

So, it might not have been about their state of cleanliness. It may have been about missing out on what they had planned to do and what they had expected to receive. Hmmmm... how many times do we hurriedly pass by the homeless, lonely, the stranded motorist, and etc? How many times do we do just "a little something"instead of taking the time/effort to fully see to another's needs? How many times do we avoid the nerd in the class, the noisy co-worker, the broke friend, or even the social media posts requesting prayer?

Just think about it. Question yourself. Examine yourself.  Do you really love your neighbor as you love yourself? Matthew 22:39 KJV  Love is kind and love is patient. You may not be a priest or Levite, but you are called to be like Christ, you are called to be a minister/servant. If you need a refresher on what real love is all about, read I Corinthians chapter 13. Think I'm going to stop right here & read it again.

The Road Taken

Let's take a closer look at Luke 10: 25 - 37. The lawyer wanted a specific definition of who indeed  was his neighbor. Rather than spilling off the answer, Jesus presented him with a "story" that allowed the lawyer to draw his own conclusion. And I believe there was a bit of Holy Ghost conviction that fell on all those who, in their mind, had asked that same question. 

" A certain MAN went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and FELL among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead." Luke 10:30 KJV

Most folks would understand the phrase, "fell among thieves" as to mean; the thieves surrounded the man. That is certainly true, but I would like to add that the thieves were already there, waiting for a victim.

No doubt the man knew that his chosen route from Jerusalem to Jericho was a dangerous one. The road itself was commonly referred to as "The Way of Blood". Yet, still traveled by many people because it was the shortest distance between the two cities. And many of the travelers were priests, Levites, and others who were either going to Jerusalem to worship or returning to Jericho from there.

The traveler did not choose to be beaten and robbed. He did not choose to be left for dead. However, THE MAN MADE THE CHOICE TO TRAVEL A DANGEROUS ROAD. 

Life in and of itself is dangerous and getting more so, every day. The main choice we have in life is the way in which we choose to live it. If there is a less dangerous route to get where you are going, then take the safer path. If you have no choice but to travel a perilous road, then cover yourself in the blood of Christ and go. He has promised that He will never leave nor forsake you. In the mean time, "be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:" I Peter 5:8 KJV

What of the thieves? I have little to add about them. They behaved as thieves. They accomplished their goal. We read no more of them in this passage. Yet, their actions served to create the opportunity in which the Good Samaritan displayed true Christian compassion. Hmmm.... instead of looking at the times you have been "beaten, robbed, & left for dead", ponder the intervention of Jesus and the good Samaritans that He sent to rescue and restore you.

There is so much to glean from this passage. I will be posting additional observations in the coming days. Meanwhile, study it for yourselves. Feel free to leave comments or questions (anytime). Let's grow in God's Word, together. 

Christian, Be the Minister You are Called to Be

"I am fully convinced, my dear brothers and sisters,[fn] that you are full of goodness. You know these things so well you can teach each other all about them." Romans 15:14 NLT

In this verse, Apostle Paul clearly lays the mandate of ministry before the Roman believers. He affirms the fact that they were saved (brothers/sisters), that they were of people of exceptional character (good), knowledgeable of the Word of God, and able to teach/instruct.

The following verses are those that would have been part of the common teachings of Christ. 

"But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:" Matthew 20:26,27 KJV

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 

When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you? “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters,[a] you were doing it to me!’ Matthew 25:34-45 NLT

"But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." Mark 10:43-45 KJV

"For to whomsoever much is give, much shall be required: and to whom men have committed much, of him, they will ask the more." Luke 12:48 KJV

So, my brothers, my sisters, with Apostle Paul, I encourage you today, to be about the Father's business. You are saved, good, knowledgeable and are able to teach (speak) the biblical truths that will set the captives free, heal the lame, deliver the bound, and save the lost.

Tempted, Tried, but Triumphant

The temptation to "give up" is one that everyone has experienced at some point. Perhaps it was while trying to tie a neck tie for the tenth time or in the middle of an argument with your spouse, or when you were trying to get your child to eat green veggies.....at any rate, the temptation to quit, is very real.

The Apostle Paul begins chapter 10 of I Corinthians, reminding the Church of their forefathers' journey through the wilderness. He states clearly that "they all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual water". And that with many, God was not pleased. 

---I want to pause here and say to the Bride/Church, we may be eating and drinking of the same spiritual food & water, but with many of us, God is not pleased. It was the lack of gratitude, the grumbling, & complaining that displeased God then, and when we display those same failures, He is grieved with us as well. But, I digress. What I want you to glean from this post, has to do with God's faithfulness to strengthen us through our trials and temptations.

The Corinthians were experiencing "growing pains". Paul's letters to the church there, were to instruct them in righteousness, to expand on what he had taught them, and to quell the divisions among them, and to ENCOURAGE them. I find the following verse extremely encouraging in these difficult days in which we are living.

"The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure." I Corinthians 10:13 NLT

One of satan's most successful ploys is to convince a person to give up on what they perceive to be an impossible outcome. This essentially causes one to dismiss the truth that faith sees the substance that the God of the impossible will bring about on their behalf, if they will believe.

Today, I ask you to take God at His word. When you feel like giving up on your dreams, read the Word & pray. When you feel like your prayers are going no where and you see no use in praying, read the Word & pray. Don't quit! Don't give up! Don't give in! Refuse to listen to the enemy. Speak out loud; "Though I am tempted to quit, God is faithful. Though I am weary with the trial, God is faithful to show me the way out of it. Though I feel like there is not an ounce of power left in me, God is faithful to strengthen me." 

When you fill your mind/heart with the Word of God, your faith will grow. When your faith begins to grow, you will experience His strength perfected (perfectly displayed) through your weakness.

Beloved, we are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus.

Perfect Psalm for Finding Perspective

 I believe this Psalm is a fitting set of affirmations for us, every day.... And especially during these perilous days in which we live.

I love the old KJV, but it's familiarity can cause one to read through it with little thought of its application. The following is from the amplified version. Take time to meditate on theses verses and you will experience a shift in your thoughts & behaviors.

"Blessed (happy, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers] gather.

2 But his delight and desire are in the law of the Lord, and on His law (the precepts, the instructions, the teachings of God) he habitually meditates (ponders and studies) by day and by night.

3 And he shall be like a tree firmly planted [and tended] by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not fade or wither; and everything he does shall prosper [and come to maturity].

4 Not so the wicked [those disobedient and living without God are not so]. But they are like the chaff [worthless, dead, without substance] which the wind drives away.

5 Therefore the wicked [those disobedient and living without God] shall not stand [justified] in the judgment, nor [b]sinners in the congregation of the righteous [those who are upright and in right standing with God].

6 For the Lord knows and is fully acquainted with the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly [those living outside God’s will] shall perish (end in ruin and come to nought)." Psalm 1:1-6 AMP

Have You ___________?

Thinking about what we are to be doing as we anticipate the coming of Christ......

1)Have you been born again? If your answer is "yes", then move ahead to next question. If you answered "no", I ask you to read the first set of scriptures & ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins (wrong doings).

2)Have you been baptized in the Holy Ghost with the evidence is speaking in tongues? If "yes" go to third question. If "no", read the next set of scriptures & ask God to fill you to overflowing with His spirit.

3) Have you testified, witnessed, or prophesied? If "yes" continue to move forward. If "no", read third set of verses & submit to the leading of the Holy Ghost.

4) Have you laid hands on the sick & prayed for their recovery? If you answered "yes", then you are doing the work of the Lord. If "no", please read the scriptures in Matthew 25 & pray for ministry opportunities to share God's love & prayers for healing.

5)Have you been faithful to serve God by serving others? If you answered "yes" then I commend you & encourage you to continue to work the works of Jesus. If you answered "no", then read the fifth set of verses, get off of the Internet, & get into your prayer closet.

My brothers & sisters, true salvation will lead into a life of serving God by serving others. If we are going to impact our world for the Kingdom of God, we must do it through serving humanity as Jesus did. He had compassion on the multitudes; the sick, poor, unstable, misguided, outcast, & etc. And, He spoke the truth in love.

Scripture references:

1) John 3:15 - 21 & 1John 1:6-9

2) Acts 2:1-4 & Mark 16:17

3) Acts 1:8, & Acts 19:1 - 6

4) Mark 16:18

5) Matthew 25: 21, 34 - 40

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Receiving Sight

Many prophesied 2020 to be a year of perfect vision. As jumbled as the year has been, it has certainly caused many to readjust their focus. Many have found "perfect vision" simply by setting their affections on Christ, seeking His face, and following His commands. Yet for all that have looked to Him on their own, there have been many that He has sought out for the express purpose of revealing the glory of God in the earth.

"Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." John 8:12 KJV

"And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed  the eyes of the blind man with the clay, And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing." John 9: 1-7 KJV

This was not the first blind man that Jesus healed. It was not the first miracle that His disciples had witnessed. It certainly wasn't the first time the Pharisees had sought to condemn Jesus for doing the works for which He had been sent. But it was the first instance of Jesus singling out the blind man without first being beckoned.

Jesus met the man at his point of need. The man needed a creative miracle, because he had been born blind. Adam was created from the dust of the earth, so how better to create the parts needed for this blind man to see; than to take the earth and moisten it water from the Source of living water, and apply it to the man's eyes.

Verse 25 lets us know that the blind man had no previous knowledge of Jesus. And verse 36 reveals how the blind man really came to know the Son of Man. And once he believed, he worshipped the Lord.

Within the content of the chapter, you read the questions posed by various people groups. The disciples began with, "who sinned, this man or his parents". They were referencing the Old Testament Law found in Exodus 34:7. Jesus replied that it was neither. He explained that the man was born blind to present the opportunity for God to be glorified. 

The Pharisees had questions and accusations. The parents simply said, "let him speak for himself". The blind man (now healed) simply asked who the Son of Man was. 

The blind man's obedience, (he went to the pool of Siloam & washed his eyes) was the catalyst for the completion of the miracle. And it was his worship (verse 38) that made him whole.

Beloved, Jesus will meet you at your point of need. He may do something that you may not expect. He may ask you to do something in order to complete the miracle. In all of this, He will work to reveal the glory of God. And it will be your worship and testimony that will reveal His glory to others. Sharing the Good News with others, is just that simple. Praise & glorify God for all that He has done for you.

I am believing to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living, in this year of our Lord, 2021.