The Everyday Prayer

Re:Verse passage – Luke 10:25-37 (day six)

Little did the expert know, the answer to his question was staring him in the face. Jesus is not only the means through whom the expert could inherit eternal life, but he also is the very embodiment of both great commandments.

Jesus’ arrival in Bethlehem over 2000 years ago was the real life Good Samaritan. Seeing all of us fractured and left for dead, he drew near to tend to our death dealing self-inflicted wounds. He is our good and merciful and loving neighbor.

He is Immanuel, God with us. He is the way, the truth, and the life.

If only the expert of the law had known all that; grateful we do!

Merry Christmas!

Re:Verse passage – Luke 10:25-37 (day five)  But wishing to justify himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
The question asked by the lawyer seems innocent and harmless on the surface, but a deeper dig reveals a selfish human heart. What the lawyer is trying to do is to draw a line around his relationships and experiences that will help him feel safe in his worldview and religiously adequate in his keeping of the law. To the Jews of that time “neighbors” were immediate relatives, members of the same tribe, those of Jewish descent, and finally those who hade converted to Judaism.  They were using the law as a wall to insulate and isolate themselves from culture.
Jesus’ answer (in a parable) totally wrecked that line of thinking. Outside the lines.  Tore down the walls. Endless opportunities and possibilities to love and serve others.
Jesus taught that “neighbors” are not only family and friends, but also enemies which implies limitless opportunities and possibilities for us to love our “neighbors”.

Re:Verse passage – Luke 10:25-37 (day four)

We live in a ‘hurry up’, ‘no patience’, ‘my schedule is important’ world.  We get so involved in our own importance and drive to succeed that we often fail to see those around us in need.  In our parable, one would expect the religious leaders to quickly respond to assist the wounded traveler.  They were, after all, the example of how God would have us to live.  Instead, they refused to even pause to investigate.

The Samaritan was different.  He had compassion.  He put aside his own business, and responded to the needs of the Jewish traveler.  He was a neighbor.  Are you a neighbor to those around you?  Are you too busy or uninterested to see opportunities to join God in His work?  Will you put aside your busy schedule to share the gospel or lend a listening ear?  A follower of Christ stands out among the rest…loving your neighbor as yourself speaks volumes to the lost world.

Re:Verse passage – Luke 10:25-37 (day three)

“Then Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do the same.’”

If Jesus points to the socially unacceptable person as exemplary, then the world really has turned upside down. Jesus even concludes the parable by enjoining his questioner to aspire to the character of the reprehensible individual. Two millennia of cultural distance have diluted and dulled the immediacy of the truly ridiculous nature of Jesus’s story structure. To learn from someone you do not like is hard. But to be urged to learn from someone who is spiritually, morally, or theologically offensive to you is a bridge too far. Does God really view the world in such a radically different perspective? Can you actually be that wide of the mark? Perhaps it’s fair to say that if Jesus isn’t shocking you, you aren’t listening.

Re:Verse passage – Luke 10:25-37 (day two)

But wishing to justify himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” vs. 29

This is the question that initiated one of the most probing and penetrating parables in all of scripture. When reading this it occurs to me to ask; did he really want to know? There he stood as a student of the law, one who understood textual nuance. This man knew things. He knew enough to engage Jesus with a query about personal righteousness. That knowledge, however was not enough to save him. If we don’t put into practice those lessons taught to us in scripture are we truly Jesus’ disciples? How many of us stand with our toes right up to the line of a spiritual awakening, knowing enough to realize what can come from obedience, only to remain there and not take the leap into action? The world is gasping for breath, and we do well to hear it. What good is it to know these stories and let our neighbors tread the way of death? Jesus didn’t come to tell stories, he came to give the world the breath of life. Time to jump.

Re:Verse passage – Luke 8:1-15 (day seven)

“[…] it is in parables, so that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.”

Jesus gives us a glimpse into the purpose of his storytelling. Jesus isn’t telling us that His parables are only understood by some elite group of people. Actually, His stories are quite relatable, and it is likely that most people understood what He was getting at… when they allowed His words to penetrate their heart! Matthew Henry says parables make the things of God “more plain and easy” to those willing to be taught, and “at the same time more difficult and obscure to those who [are] willfully ignorant.” Application of the parable is the difference in hearing and understanding. As we continue this study in the parables of Luke, dive deep into these stories and see how God is penetrating your heart and ask yourself, where can I be found in this story?

Re:Verse passage – Luke 8:1-15 (day six)

God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. 1 Corinthians 1:27

I imagine the disciples were discouraged. Those they expected to follow Jesus had rejected him, and those they least expected were now following him, like sinful women (Luke 7:37) and government officials. Likely, this was not how they thought the coming Kingdom would go.

Jesus was not surprised; he knew what the Father was doing. That’s what he was telling his disciples.

The proud, wise, and powerful of the world were being snatched up, distracted, and consumed by the cares of the world. It would be the least of these that would sink roots deep and bear fruit.

Re:Verse passage – Luke 8:1-15 (day five)

“The sower went out to sow his seed;”

It seems like a “no-brainer” to say or think that a sower is gonna sow. But there comes a moment or occasion for action and engagement.  The interesting thing to me, is that the sower knows exactly who he/she is and understands that their identity is tied to their activity.  A decision or determination was made to “sow”, because that’s who they are.

I wonder how well believers understand their/our identity as believers- who we are and how that correlates in to our attitudes and actions.  Let’s mention a few:  We are worshippers. We are witnesses. We are followers. We are disciples (learners). We are servants. We are members (family/body).  So, if identity correlates to activity, what should we be doing because of who we are?  Learning? Witnessing? Worshipping? Etc.

If there is a disconnect, is it in the understanding of identity, or the absence of activity?  Lord, show us/remind us, who we are and help us live that out faithfully!!

Re:Verse passage – Luke 8:1-15 (day four)

While each of these soils represents a different person and how they respond to the Word of God, they can each show up in our lives at any given time.  Depending on how we have cultivated our heart or not, (repentance, anger, bitterness, disobedience, or hardening your heart) we may experience all of these responses at one time or another.  The soil of our heart requires daily cultivation to avoid the influence of the culture around us.  If we ignore the care of our heart, we will become hardened and unfruitful in our response to God.

What is the condition of your heart?  Do you desire an honest and good heart that is fruitful to God?  You can only produce good fruit with careful attention to the care of the soil of your heart.  Verse 15 ends with one key word—perseverance or steadfastness.  You have to give ongoing care to your ‘soil’ to maintain your fruitfulness.