On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” He answered: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
Luke 10:25-28Luke 10:25-28
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
The Good Samaritan 25 ; . An expert in the Law of Moses stood up and asked Jesus a question to see what he would say. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to have eternal life?” 26 Jesus answered, “What is written in the Scriptures? How do you understand them?” 27 a ; b . The man replied, “The Scriptures say, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind.’ They also say, ‘Love your neighbors as much as you love yourself.’ ” 28 . Jesus said, “You have given the right answer. If you do this, you will have eternal life.”
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I recently finished the book, “Crazy Love” by Francis Chan. If you haven’t read it, I highly recommend it. It is replete with practical truths and applications for living our lives in such a way that everyone around us will know that we’re in love with Jesus Christ. Not just that we know Him, but that we’re truly in love with Him!
Many people live their lives in such a way as to do the bare minimum necessary to get by. For example, the average student doesn’t apply themselves to their full potential, they simply do what is required in order to get an acceptable grade, with “acceptable” being the relative factor based on their particular situation. (What their parents expectations are, what GPA they need to have to be eligible for college, what it takes to simply pass the course, etc.) Or, in marriage for example, most spouses do only what it takes to appease their spouses needs in order to make sure their own needs aren’t being neglected. It’s an “I’ll do this for them so they’ll feel obligated to do this for me” syndrome, rather than an “I’m here to serve and honor and bless and please my husband/wife because I love them more than anyone else on earth” dedication. The phrase “the honeymoon’s over” usually starts to apply in most marriages when the luggage gets thrown in the closet upon return from the honeymoon, because it’s about that time that our attention turns from giving love to taking love. The same principles could be applied to our friendships, our jobs, and virtually every other facet of our lives. There is a daily struggle we face to remain fully invested, 100% all in, no holds barred in our commitments in life.
I think about that when I read the Scripture at the top of the page. The “Expert of the Law” that tried to test Jesus knew what was required to receive eternal life, he just wasn’t keen on doing anymore than the bare minimum to get by. That’s why Jesus used the illustration of “The Good Samaritan” to prove to the “expert” and everyone else listening what loving God with all of our hearts, souls, minds, and strength looks like. Loving God completely doesn’t mean just going to church, or being able to quote Scripture chapter and verse, or giving your tithe, or sponsoring a missionary. Loving God totally means dying to yourself and living for His will and purpose for your life today.
In the closing chapter of “Crazy Love,” Francis Chan shares a quote I’ve used for years by Anne Dillard. It says, “How we live our days is…how we live our lives.” Each and every one of us need to discern for ourselves how to live this day in faithful surrender to God as we “continue to work out our salvation with fear and trembling.” (Phil. 2:12Phil. 2:12
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
Lights in the World
12 My dear friends, you always obeyed when I was with you. Now that I am away, you should obey even more. So work with fear and trembling to discover what it really means to be saved.
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I don’t know what God may be calling you to do today to demonstrate that you love Him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. But, I do know that there isn’t a day that goes by that He doesn’t give us the opportunity to show Him that level of love somehow, someway. Should you quit your job and stay home with your children? Maybe. Should you sell your car and downsize so you can have more money to contribute to ministry? Perhaps. Should you contact your spouse right now and affirm your love for them and your commitment to your marriage? Only you can answer that. Should you stay in whatever trying situation you’re facing at work or home or school so that you can be a testimony to God’s power and grace? Possibly.
Though I cannot give you the answers to those questions, I can provide you with this suggestion: Ask yourself, “Am I loving my neighbor and my God totally and wholeheartedly when I ________________? (You fill in the blank) I urge all of us to live as though each person we come into contact with is Christ! That will make all the difference!
Is there anyone on earth that Jesus wouldn’t have been willing to lay down His life for? No. Then doesn’t it stand to reason that we should be laying down our lives willingly in love for God and our neighbor everyday? And who is our neighbor? Keep reading in the passage from Luke…verses 30-37. And then, as Jesus said, “Go and do likewise.”
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