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Luke 10:36-37
“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.”
New International Version (NIV)
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How do you know if you are a Christian? You may have heard the formula: “Well, you invite Jesus into your heart and you will go to heaven.” In the third grade I did it and I am glad I did. I led my best friend Rene Mitsusawa to do it. Many boys in my 8th and 9th grade classes did it. How do we know if it took? I mean I know God will do his part, but what change might we expect in a person who did?
A very religious man asked Jesus what he had to do to inherit eternal life. The first time I read these verses in Luke, I fully expected Jesus to tell him the formula. It is more than interesting to note that he didn’t. Jesus knew the man was big on law-keeping so he asked him what the law said. The man answered with the perfect answer, “Love God with all . . . and love your neighbor as yourself.” “Okay. Do those things and you will live,” Jesus answered. One problem, implied the man, “Exactly who is my neighbor?” Jesus answered by telling him the story of the man beaten and left for dead on the Jericho road. A priest and Levite failed to help. But a despised Samaritan went above and beyond caring for him. Then Jesus said, “Which one was a neighbor?” “The one who showed mercy toward him,” answered the ruler. Jesus said, “Go and do the same.”
We Baptists seem to have the “Make disciples of all nations, baptizing them . . .” part of the Great Commission down. But Jesus said more: “teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you . . .” Our failure to focus on that part prompted Dallas Willard to call it the Great Omission. By all means believe and be baptized. Still, the confirmation of our salvation is always transformation. In other words if my salvation doesn’t lead me to love people, all people, I might need to look again at what I meant when I trusted in Jesus.
Clarence Jordan of Koinonia Farms accepted Jesus as a boy, the same day his brother did. Later he formed an interracial Christian community in Georgia called Koinonia Farm. When hostility came against the project, his brother refused to get involved to care for people of different races. Clarence told his brother, “You need to go back to the pastor and tell him that you meant to say you admire Jesus, but that you didn’t mean you would follow him.”
Being a Christian is not just reciting a formula, praying a prayer or walking through water. It involves a commitment to a life of learning about Jesus, living like him and leading others to do the same. We are not saved by good works, but we are saved to do good works. Are you ready to be a Christian? Follow the Leader. He loves all people. Our turn!
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Pray with me:
Father, forgive us for reducing relationship with you to a manageable formula. Continue to transform us into the image of your perfect Son who cared enough to engage the Samaritan woman at the well. Let us grow in grace, loving you with all we are and loving our neighbors, all of our neighbors. Would you bring somebody our way today whom we may lovingly help in your name. Like the Samaritan, make us ready to go above and beyond in helping others today because we serve the Savior who gave up his life to save the world. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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Join us in memorizing the Word. Scripture for this week:
Matthew 5:3-4
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
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| Our 2020 Every Day with Jesus readings will follow the Foundations New Testament reading plan. Copies of the reading plan are available at Tallowood Baptist Church, or download your copy at REPLICATE.ORG
We would love for you to join us as we read the New Testament through this year, five chapters a week. In addition I will continue my long-standing practice of reading one Psalm a day through the year. Use Robby Gallaty’s H. E. A. R. plan to study each chapter (also found at REPLICATE.ORG). Highlight verses which speak to you, explain what they mean in your own words in a journal, apply them to your own life, then respond by doing what God tells you to do.
Joyfully,
Duane
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