home button About-Him Logo email button
About Us Short Sermons About Him! About His Word!
Topical Studies Songs of the Church - MP3 Bible Studies
Devotionals Thoughts on The Life of Christ Daily Humor

About-Him Devotional 08-28-04
http://about-him.com
 
Once again we apologise for the fiasco of last week. Some of you received as high as 30 emails. We are taking steps to ensure that it doesn't happen again.
 
Also, Marie and I are about to go on an Alaskan cruise that our children gave us as a 50th wedding anniversary present. There will be no devotional sent out for the next 2 to 3 weeks.
 
148: The Parable of the Good Samaritan - Lu. 10:25-37
 
Luke 10:25 ¶ And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?
27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.
 
As Jesus continued teaching in the court of the temple, He was interupted by a certain lawyer. Lawyers were scribes who not only made copies of the scriptures but interpreted and taught them. "Jesus, what do I need to do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus answered, “What do you read in the law?" The man gave a very good summary of the intent and focus of the law. "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself." Jesus affirmed that he had answered well. If he would practice what he was saying, he would live eternally.
 
Luke 10:29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?
 
The man, willing to justify himself, asked the question which introduces us to the Parable of the Good Samaritan,"Who is my neighbor?"
 
The story is timeless, with many implications. Many of you have heard it recited many times in Sunday school and and from the pulpit.
 
A man was traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho and was attacked by thieves who beat and robbed him and left him as dead. A priest and then a Levite passed by on the other side of the road and did nothing. A Samaritan man happened by and was moved with compassion. He took immediate action. He attended to the man’s wounds with oil and wine and then trasported him to an inn. Here he left money for the man’s care and promised to pay any extra upon his return.
 
Jesus then asked a question which had an unavoidable answer, "Which of these three was a neighbor to the unfortunate man?" "He that showed Mercy," the lawyer replied, The answer of Jesus resonants throughout the ages, "Go and do thou likewise."
 
Luke 10:36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?
37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
 
Conclusion and Application:
 
Something about the teaching of Jesus was getting under the skin of this scribe. He was a keeper of the law and tried to live a holy and pure life before the Lord. Yet, something was missing and he was wanting to justify himself. Are we ever guilty of that? Yes!
 
His answer to Jesus was excellent, love God with every thing that you have and your
neighbor as yourself. Of course this is exaxtly what Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount as the true application of the law of Moses. The message has not changed.
 
There are many types in this parable which people use to illustrate various points. This is good as long as we don’t miss the main thrust of the story while making out points. For example: Jerusalem is the city of peace, a type of the kingdom of God. The man traveled downward to the city of Jericho which is a type of sin and the world. The thieves certainly represent satan and the works of darkness.
 
The priest and the Levite are usually taken to represent a preoccupied and/or uncaring clergy who were going about their religious duties which ignoring that which was right before their eyes. Times haven’t changed a bit, have they?
 
In this regard, if we see a need, do our best to take care of it yourself immediately. If our church will help, that’s good. Obviously we can’t meet every need that we see, but a caring attitude is what Jesus is calling for. Churches that care can do wondered by combining the energies of likeminded people.
 
If churches and clergy are caught up in their self centered programs and ignoring the wounded and bleeding, there will be a high price to pay at the day of judgment.
 
Finally, when Jesus specified that it was a Samaritan that did the proper thing, He was addressing the issue of racial prejudice. Seemingly evey culture has a pecking order. In much of the world, the lighter your skin, the higher you are in society. The Samaritans were outcast because they had intermarried with pagans after their captivity and had adopted idol of worship while still holding to the law of Moses. Just as the western world has the infamous N word, pious Jews had their S word.
 
I am thankful for a Savior, whom we call the Good Samaritan. He found me, ravished by sin, on the road to destruction. He bound up my wounds by pouring in the oil and the wine of the Holy Ghost. He has also promised to return to see how I’m doing. I can get excited about that!
  
John 8:12 ¶ Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
 
Things You'll Find in the  About-Him Website

Audio Sermons
http://about-him.com/sermonlink.html
Bible Studies     http://about-him.com/bslinkpage.html
Devotional Archives  http://about-him.com/devotionlink.html
Humor  http://about-him.com/hu1.html
Flash Movies http://about-him.com/player.html
Music  http://about-him.com/audio.html

 
                                               Humor
 
When the employees of a restaurant attended a fire safety seminar, they watched a fire official demonstrate the proper way to operate an extinguisher.
 
"Pull the pin like a hand grenade," he explained, then press the trigger to release the foam. Later an employee was selected to extinguish a controlled fire in the parking lot. In her nervousness, she forgot to pull the pin.
 
The instructor hinted, "Like a hand grenade, remember?"
 
In a burst of confidence she pulled the pin ... and hurled the extinguisher at the blaze.
 
Somebody Has Said
 
A cynic is a man who, when he smells flowers, looks around for a coffin. - Paul Beatty
  
 
Keep Looking Up!
  
Don & Marie Spooner
About Him! Ministries


Your thoughts and Inquiries    Contact@about-him.com
Subscribe to this devotional?  Subscribe@about-him.com

Index To All Devotionals

Our Copyright is Your Right to Copy (and we hope that you do!)

random banners
Use your refresh button to see more banners --Add these banners to your website

The purpose of About-Him.Com is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ whom we preach as the Almighty God manifest in the flesh. It is our desire that everything presented on these pages increases your faith in our God and Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Home  About Us  About His Word  Bible Studies  Humor  Songs of the Church  Thoughts on the Life of Christ  Weekly Devotions  Audio Devotionals  Topical Studies  Contact

Sonservers.Com
Last modified:03-14-2018
Contact us
About Him! Ministries