We took a deep dive into Jesus’ teaching called the ‘Good Samaritan’ recently. It gets going as Jesus asked a lawyer (then they were considered experts-in-knowing-the-nature-of-God):
"…what does the law say?"
The lawyer began with:
“…love the Lord your God with all your heart…and with all your soul…
…and with all your strength…and with all your mind."
Then the lawyer followed that repeating something Jesus had earlier added: “…and love your neighbor as yourself.”
Jesus had taken two different parts of the Old Testament Law and wove them together which was repeated in the lawyer’s response.
Then the lawyer essentially asked for an example…
…and in using the ‘Good Samaritan’ Jesus made a hero out of someone they had historically been taught to treat with contempt.
Well that suddenly and certainly casts doubts on notions of them being an enemy…
…and prompts even more questions about who we’ve told who our enemy is?
…and why?
Part of this is prompted by a sense that media attention today is mainly on churches that define themselves by who they keep out…
...who they hold in contempt…
…rather than those churches striving to show that Jesus wants to welcome them in.
May the ‘Good Samaritan’ keep prompting questions throughout Jesus’ church.
May those question keep pushing us to better love our neighbors.
Together We Serve,
Pastor Mike
p.s We meet in-person and online 10AM Sunday. Email prinevillepc@gmail.com for a link to our livestream.