Today's Reading: Luke 10: 25-37
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Please click this link to read Luke 10: 25-37
Bible Study
Today's passage is perhaps the best-known story in the Bible. Why? Because it is so easy to remember and yet it is so challenging to everyone about what does it means by loving God and his people.
Saying to love God and his people is so easy. Studying what does it means is not difficult. But, really to live it out according to what Jesus says in this parable is beyond what we can be able to do. Say if you are walking on the street of an area full of drug addicts and prostitutes and you see a half-dead person on the ground, would you do the same thing the Samaritan did? Yes or no? A brother in your church tells you that his father is dying and he is in a hospital far away, would you be willing to go and pray for him when you are very busy? Yes or no? Some leaders from your church wants to nominate you as a candidate for a position in your church Council, what would you say? No, too busy, wait for a few years or YES? That's what Jesus means loving God and his people.
N.T. Wright says:
What is at stake, then and now, is the question of whether we will use the God-given revelation of love and grace as a way of boosting our own sense of isolated security and purity, or whether we will see it as a call and challenge to extend that love and grace to the whole world. No church, no Christian, can remain content with easy definitions which allow us to watch most of the world lying half-dead in the road.
So, what is loving God and his people means to you? Are you able to love God and his people? Or do you let a half-dead person or your half-dead church on the road doing nothing?
Let's have a time to be still and give the Holy Spirit space to speak through the passage of scripture we have just read. Offer this time up to Jesus as you listen to him, while listening to "Gabriel's Oboe"
Spiritual Journal
What I heard from Jesus today is: Isolated security and purity?
What I received from Jesus today is a picture of most churches all over the world - isolated security and purity. That's what bishop N.T.Wight says and I think it is very true!
Lots of new Christians are so enthusiastic to bring non-believers to their church. But, after a few months and some years when they are adapt to the very secure and pure lifestyle in their church, they stop bring new people to church. They join this kind of "isolated security and purity" club, enjoying this secure and pure club life and doing nothing to break the isolation any more!
Is that what your church is doing now? Is that what you are doing now? Please do something to help your church and yourself to really live out love God and his people!
Dear Holy Spirit,
Open our eyes to see if we are taking part into a lifestyle of isolated security and purity. If we are, lead us to repent so that we can live out loving you and your people and having a lifestyle of Christlikeness. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
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