Following up where we left of yesterday, allow me to say this life of faith is not turning our back like this either.

Luke 10:25-37 English Standard Version

The Parable of the Good Samaritan

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[a] 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.”

A priest, a lawyer and a sinner walked into a bar.

That is no joke, nor is this life of faith. We will find ourselves given the opportunity to be merciful if we do not see ourselves as being too important or too busy to stop what we are doing when we are needed. Verse 31 begins with “now by chance”. Which of those words best expresses this life of faith? I believe it is the word now.

Once we walk away from those opportunities for mercy, now is over and cannot return.  We need to be instant before opportunity leaves us.

Romans 12:12

Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

Matthew 13:23

As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”

The one who produces 100 is no better than the one who produces 60 or 30. We can only accept that if we understand that the results of our productivity are in line with God’s will.

We do not control God’s will, we can only be obedient to His calling and leave the results up to Him.

In the world we are trained to be competitive and strive to win. There are no medals for participation. Our crowns have already been established and when we get them, we will lay them at our Savior’s feet. Revelation 4:10

Abundant love does that to us, we want to respond with as much appreciation as we feel for what His love, grace and mercy has done for us. Perhaps that is why the differing production results from Matthew 13:23, He has done more for some of us than others.

Wasn’t dying for our sins enough? Sure, but some of us have messier sins than others. Some of us lived that life longer than others. Some of us feel the guilt of that life more than others.

Luke 7:47

Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.”

Do we measure our love for Him in that way? Do we feel guilty for not loving Him as much as the next believer? May I remind those who have experienced failed marriages that some failed for just that reason. Marriage isn’t a contest and this marriage to Christ is not a contest either.

Since Christ died to free us from the bonds of sin, why attach guilt to this relationship in any form?

Putting it another way, let us realize that obedience of faith is done one command at a time.

We do not get to choose what is asked of us and we are not allowed to make up commands based on our level of guilty feelings.

This life of faith is not a public service announcement pleading for thirty-five cents a day.