Understanding the Heart

Just a short post today regarding what is the will of God in our lives, and the parable of the good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37. The whole parable is about loving God wholly, and loving your neighbor as yourself. Jesus had just gotten a doctor of the law to confess that this was and is indeed the heart and soul of the law of God. Jesus also said the same in another place: "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets" (Mat. 7:12). There are really only four characters in the parable, and if we are professing faith in Jesus Christ then we are going to be one of those characters. So the question obviously is, Which one are we? There's the man who was beaten and left for dead. There's the priest, and the Levite, and then there's the Samaritan. I might note that the Samaritan was the only person in the parable who was not of the household of God, and also that Samaritans were despised by people like the lawyer that Jesus was addressing. The parable is really very simple. The priest who came by where the beaten man was at, just kept on going when he saw him. The Levite did likewise. Now these were both men of God who held very special offices in Israel, and who were no doubt very active in the worship and service of God that was going on at that time. The man who was beaten and robbed was an Israelite but he wasn't anybody special, such as the priest or the Levite. The Samaritan of course was the big nobody in the parable because he was just totally on the outside looking in, as far as the people of God were concerned. But as we know, it was the Samaritan who stopped when he saw the man, and took care of him to the fullest extent of his ability. We also know that Jesus made it very clear to the doctor of the law who was tempting him, that the Samaritan was the only person who demonstrated the truth of loving your neighbor as yourself. The lawyer had no choice but to admit that it was indeed the Samaritan who showed forth the reality of God's law, even though he wasn't even a partaker of God's law.

So what it comes down to is this: What is it that we are actually focused on in our faith toward Jesus? If it's 'ministry,' 'church' service, spiritual gifts, etc, but we're not really having genuine care for the concerns and needs of those around us; then we are either the priest or the Levite. If we are the one who is presently downcast and distraught with adversity, then we are the one in the parable who was beaten, robbed, and left for dead. If we are that character then it's certain that we need the right people around us. If it is the natural thing and the preferred thing for us to care about someone else's troubles, and we demonstrate that care; then we can qualify as being the despised Samaritan. If we are zealous of the things regarding ministry and service, but we are not naturally inclined to lift up our hurting neighbor, then we are hypocrites, and we are not in the process of being saved. It's that simple. The apostle Paul clearly stated this truth in short order: "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself" (Gal. 6:1,2). The priest and the Levite certainly thought themselves to be 'something,' and it is certain that in the sight of God they were 'nothing.' To be sure let's further define this whole 'something' and 'nothing' issue by the scriptures: "And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not [godly love], I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not [godly love], it profiteth me nothing" (I Cor. 13:2,3). There you have it. The whole purpose of ministry, service, spiritual gifts, etc; is all about increasing us in the love of God, and if it isn't doing that then it's all in vain (Mat. 15:9). The only thing that justifies us as children of God and believers in Jesus Christ, is if we have and are demonstrating God's love to those around us. Let's not ensnare ourselves with the idea that we are right with God because we are active in ministry, religious service, the operation of spiritual gifts, or anything else. The only thing that truly justifies anyone before God is genuine faith in Jesus that results in his purifying power cleansing us from sin, and living through us in divine love (Acts 15:8,9; Rom. 5:5; Gal. 2:20; Gal. 5:16). There is absolutely nothing that is as important to God than someone caring about someone else's need, and tending to it. If we remember that we will do well. Amen.