Love Over Darkness
Read the Text: Luke 10
Memorize the Text: He said to them, “Whenever you pray, say, Father, your name be honored as holy. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our bread. And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone in debt to us. And do not bring us into temptation. (Luke 11:2-4)
Consider the Text: Luke 10:25-37
Currently, we watch a horrific war take place as Russia invades Ukraine. We see the effects of sin and darkness in the death of soldiers and civilians. The presence of hate and sin diminish the significance of human life and causes those involved to view it as nothing more than a sacrificial pawn given over to achieve a personal goal. As Christians, we see these atrocities and remember that we are called to live in a manner of encouragement that comes from the love of God. We are to speak truth in love while extending grace and love to others. We must center on sharing and showing the gospel. In Luke 10:25-27, we find the reminder of how we must live out love in the darkest of times.
We need to notice the QUESTION OF SELF-JUSTIFICATION. A lawyer stood up to challenge Jesus and asked what “he” needed to do to gain eternal life. The man desired to understand what activities and steps he could take to earn the favor of God and receive eternal life. The question was not wrong in the desire to receive eternal life but centered on the personal activity instead of reliance upon Christ.
The lawyer sought to figure out the minimum requirement to gain eternal life by asking Jesus to identify one’s neighbor. The man wanted to know what is the least amount of work that needs to be done if I want to receive the gift of life. He did not want enough to change his life or alter his earthly comfort. He wanted to discover the smooth and easy way to life. Jesus responded with a parable that taught the truth.
We need to see the SYSTEMATIC FAILURE OF RELIGION OVER RELATIONSHIP. Jesus told of two religious leaders who passed a man left for dead. These individuals demonstrated how religion dominated the moment and hindered them from responding in love. These religious individuals saw the man there and, as a result, understood the need. The person’s need did not move them to action because of the selfish nature that led them to attempt to preserve their clean state. Thus, the leaders sacrificed extending love at the foot of religion.
When we are not cautious, the same threat can hinder us. We can systematically fail to extend love because we become so caught up in the activities and identities of religion. We concern ourselves with the status we might lose if we engage someone that does not look like us or believe like us. Our ability to love others often becomes framed by the religious identity we seek to gain.
We must follow the EXAMPLE OF THE SAMARITAN. The Samaritan becomes the hero of the story. He is considered an outcast and a half-breed. If there was a person who had every earthly right to ignore the man left for dead, then the Samaritan would be the one. Instead, Jesus shared how the Samaritan was moved by compassion. This compassion drove him to respond to the great need that existed in front of him and to even be sacrificial in order for the man to be restored to health.
The Samaritan teaches us the truth of authentic love. A love that extends beyond the earthly barriers to engage those headed toward death that they may have life. He modeled the need of personal sacrifice for the eternal welfare of others. The religious leaders had status, but the Samaritan had love. We must guard against living in a religious state without love.
We need to obey the STATUTE OF THE LORD. Jesus then turned to the lawyer at the conclusion of the story and asked if he could identify the true neighbor. This question meant to draw reflection and response. He wanted the lawyer to take an honest assessment of his own life and seek to understand if he followed the expectation of loving others. Jesus made the expectation clear when he informed the man to go and do like the Samaritan.
The same statute exists today. We are to love others in the way the Samaritan loved the unknown man left for dead. When we engage a world that exists in total defiance of the Word of God, we are called to be the living example of God’s love and the mouthpiece of declaring truth in love and mercy. As we reflect upon the parable of the Good Samaritan, we need to evaluate our desire and activity of loving others.
This blog is part of the Coffee and Quiet Time with Jesus Devotional Series found at equippingfaith.com. Join the journey of reading through the New Testament this year. More information can be found at equippingfaith.com.
