bearing burdens together

 I Corinthians 12:12-27 full context

"Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other." Romans 12:4, 5 NLT

"But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it." ICorinthians 12:18 NLT

"If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad. All of you together are Christ's body, and each of you is a part of it." I Corinthians 12:26,27 NLT

"Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.  He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love." Ephesians 4:15,16 NLT

Scriptures for Reflection

Three scriptures to bolster the message of the past few posts. I encourage you to read them & meditate on how they apply to your life and how you can live them out in your day to day walk with the Lord.

"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?" I John 3:16,17 NIV

"So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith." Galatians 6:9,10 NLT

"And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us. Those who obey God’s commandments remain in fellowship with him, and he with them. And we know he lives in us because the Spirit he gave us lives in us." IJohn 3:23,24 NLT

"Dear children, don’t let anyone deceive you about this: When people do what is right, it shows that they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous. But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil. Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God. 11 So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God. I John 3:7 - 10 NLT  

The Road Home

This is my third post in a series rooted in Luke chapter 10, dealing with the account of the "Good Samaritan". However, no where in our text is the Samaritan referred to as "good". That designation has come about due to the humanitarian acts that he performed. It is simply a descriptive word to set him apart from the rest of the population of Samaria, who were by some accounts rogue; in that they held religious beliefs that were in opposition to traditional Jewish doctrine. In Bible times, the Samaritans were generally considered a people of mixed heritage; many of which were the offspring of the captive Jews (that remained after the Assyrian conquest) and the Assyrians who took over the land. ( A brief summary can be found on Wikipedia).

My point is this, Jesus makes it obvious that the "Good Samaritan" is the traveler's neighbor and vice versa. He does not indicate that either of them were necessarily godly or Christian. He simply describes the Samaritan as doing the right (righteous) thing. In this case, that is showing mercy to one that is needy. 

We read no more of the lawyer, but I'm sure he had much to think about. He had no problem with the loving God part of the requirements to inherit eternal life, but was looking for an "out" when it come to what persons he had to love in order to live forever. Apparently the lawyer had not heard Christ's discourse on the Mount of Olives. (See Matthew 25:31-46)  Verse 40 states, " Verily I say unto you , inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."

What were the righteous acts of the Good Samaritan? He looked upon the traveler with compassion. He dressed and medicated his wounds. He gave up his own ease of transportation by placing the traveler upon his beast. He took him to a place of safety and comfort. And he anticipated the future need of the traveler and made arrangements to pay whatever expenses that followed.

It is one thing to see a need make an effort to meet it. Yet, quite another to help a person to reach a place that they can then take care of themselves. There is this thing called "time". We tend to value it more than the balance in our bank accounts. I have been guilty of giving a few dollars to assuage my conscience, when it was "time" that I should have spent with the needy person. 

Ummmm, seems this post has taken a turn. No longer talking about being a Good Samaritan or being neighborly. Now, I'm talking about living the righteous life, the Christ-like life, the part of eternal life that we live here on Earth. You see, the road home (heaven) begins in the here and now. Let's get about our Father's business, let's be what He has called us to be, let's put the passion back in our walk with Him. There are untold millions, struggling to find the road home. It is up to us, to show them the way and walk with them until the way is plain before them.

 

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.