When the Scribe asked Jesus, “what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus answered with a quote of the “shema” from the law in Deuteronomy six and Leviticus. He was intending to bring this teacher of the law face to face with living the truth. There we read, “Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength, and your neighbor as yourself”. Jesus told him he could have eternal life if he would keep this law. Of course being legalistic this scribe looked for technical loopholes. He asked Jesus a question, attempting to trick him. The question was, “who is my neighbor”. It was at that point Jesus gave the illustration of the good Samaritan.
It’s not too difficult to find your neighbor in Masantol. Not like back in the USA, where I remember growing up, blessed to spend three of my childhood years living on a ranch. We had so much land; the closest neighbor was probably ½ mile or more distance from our home. Back in Monterey most of us have neighbors living much closer. But do we know them. And even more important, do we love our neighbors. Here in Masantol I probably have 25 or thirty neighbors living within twenty-five feet of the church building.
You know the story. A certain man was traveling the road from Jerusalem to Jericho. We know from history that this was a dangerous road. The road of life is also dangerous. The man in the story, robbed and beaten, lay on the roadside as various people passed. Jesus spoke specifically of three. The Priest and the Levite passed by without helping the injured man. Only the good Samaritan stopped to help. He gave His all to help this man. Who was this certain man? The Bible typically uses this phrase to make it personal. You and I are the person robbed and injured by sin and the “evil one” on the road of life. Of course Jesus is the good Samaritan who loved us, giving His life.
When Jesus asked the scribe who was the neighbor to this certain man, there was only one answer he could give. It was the good Samaritan. He told the scribe to go and live likewise. We can only love our neighbors as Jesus lives in our hearts. I have no capability, apart from Him of loving my neighbors in Masantol. Some are raising roosters for gambling. Some are living together having left other relationships that didn’t seem to work. Others in poverty have resorted to stealing from their neighbors. Olive lives in a one-room home with no running water, by those closest to her. My prayer is that we can share the love of Christ with many of the neighbors of Masantol. Pray that they will choose to come to Jesus.
Friday, August 24, 2007
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