Luke 10:25-42 ~ put Him to the test

Luke 10:25-42

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27 And he answered, “You shall 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 your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”

29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two denarii [denarius was a day's wage for a laborer] and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”

38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

People think a lot about what they need and what defines them. Here we have 3 paragraphs on growth/love, need and ease. It reminds me of two things - a movie - the 1942 movie Mrs. Miniver. Nominated for 12 Academy Awards and winning 6. Mrs Miniver won another award in 2006, The American Film Institute's list celebrating the most inspirational films of all time. And in 2009, National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for being “culturally, historically or aesthetically” significant and will be preserved for all time.

Mrs. Miniver is about the small concerns we have in times of ease and the need for greater care, the grace we rise to, in times of war. I had my own Mrs. Miniver moment about 10 years ago, we moved into our new home and it was time to clean the carpets. I used a friend's Church friend, it was more expensive than I'd ever even considered paying, but my friend assured me of her own experience with the company, high quality, unique cleaning process and Christian need for a new business. When the equipment and men showed up, the vacuum cleaner looked like a 1950's model and the cleaning machine - not much better. I began to feel like hyperventilating over the high cost. I asked numerous questions and began to irritate the senior tech. The junior tech came back down the stairs. I suddenly realized this was one of the Lost Boys of Sudan we had in our area. He realized I had jerked to attention. He was as black as coal and looked like he was 7 feet tall. He looked at me with a lot of compassion. He said, "Madam, be at peace - all will be well." I realized how much he had seen and lived with. How small my concerns were. I replied, "I am sure it will be."

My small concerns had irritated the senior tech, just having another day on the job. I learned a lesson I have never forgotten from the compassion and well chosen words of a man who has seen a lot in his few years, a lost but found young man barely out of his teens from Sudan.

An article in our local paper said the Lost Boys had all returned, one by one to to Sudan to help their fellow man. Our local Churches had provided them with houses of volunteers to live with, help to pay for college and bicycles (we live in an area where this worked and was cost effective). These men (about 50 men and 2 women) had done well in school, had attitudes of gratitude and returned to their homeland to promote loving their neighbor as themselves. These young men left the people they lived with very impressed with their Christian faith and with their desire to better their part of the world.

Father God, we do not hear the continuation of the Samaritan neighbor who was treated with such kindness. You returned again to Mary and Martha, when Lazarus had died, saying how You love them. Martha was treated with such compassion by Jesus, in her petty need, she was the one who went out to greet Jesus. Thank You, Father, for Your compassion even to those at ease. Help us to remember the compassion of the Lost Boys when we feel the root of bitterness creep into our souls where You would have us have an attitude of gratitude.

Jesus, help us us not seek revenge or grudge when we are wronged. Let us be grateful for Grace in our own lives. And let Your living water flow and nourish our compassion to others. Let us be able to give, knowing it is more blessed to give. Let our contemplations of growth and love not be circular, but bless our souls to arrive at wisdom and steadfast love. May the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be always pleasing to You, Abba. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.


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