TRUE FICTION – WEEK FIVE
“Now Go and Do The Same”
Pastor Joy Levy – July 10, 2022
TRUE FICTION
“Now Go and Do The Same”
Pastor Joy Levy – July 10, 2022
Luke 10:25-37 — One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?” The man answered, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
“Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!”
The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
Jesus replied with a story: “A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road.
“By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side.
“Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’
“Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked. The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.”
Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”
You have RECEIVED God’s love and because of this, you are CHOSEN AND COMMANDED to love your neighbor.
Jesus empowers you by His grace to take the NEXT small step in loving your neighbor. Ask God “WHAT’S NEXT?”, and then walk it out.
Jesus was interruptible, available, and filled with compassion to love us. Let us GO AND DO THE SAME in our sphere of influence.
Luke 10: 37 — The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.” Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”