Who Is My Neighbor?

Looking for a loophole in Scriptural obligation, a man asked Jesus, "Who is my neighbor?" So, as one might expect, Jesus told a story. In the story a man was travelling, and on his journey he was robbed and beaten half to death. Luckily for him a preacher came along. But the preacher did not stop to help. Likewise, a church leader came upon the scene. The church leader did not stop to help either. The only one of three people in the story to stop and help was a Samaritan.

Who might be a modern equivalent to a Samaritan--a Muslim, a Scientologist, or Mormon perhaps? The foundational truth of Judaism and Christianity is loving God passionately and loving our neighbors genuinely. In Jesus' story the ones who should be living this truth the most did not. The one who was outside of the faith did. Being a doer of God's Word is much more important than faith without action. Check this out further in the book of James.

It was not convenient to stop and help. It cost time and money.  The Samaritan showed compassion through his actions. After hearing me preach this message, two men from Cornerstone Church picked up a hitch hiker. The men asked the hiker questions about his life. He shared a sad story with them. The two men shared sound counsel with him and prayed with him. Phone numbers were exchanged. The hiker was grateful for the ride down the road. He gladly received the love demonstrated to him.

Who is my neighbor? It could be any person who runs across my path today.

Peace,
SS

Jesus Way

On Amazon.com I found titles such as: Artist's Way, Toyota Way, Wilderness Way, Way of the Turtle, The Way-Using the Wisdom of Kabala, and The Jesus Way. Let's examine The Jesus Way. Very often people outside of the church express great admiration for Jesus, while despising the church. They love Jesus, but not the church. The church represents rules, conformity, and narrow-mindedness. They loathe the political agendas, both internal and external. They don't like the holier-than-thou attitudes of some Christians.

Dan Kimball wrote They Like Jesus but Not the Church. He interviewed dozens of people outside of the church. Kimball found that people have very powerful opinions about Jesus and the church. A guy named, Duggan, said, "If I were to go to church, I'd want it to be like a family, a healthy family where you all are looking out for each other. Church should be a place where they are glad to see you and it really feels like a community. Church sould be a place where they love you, even when you aren't doing well. Love shouldn't be conditional. I feel that most churches will only accept you and love you when you obey them and do what they say. I think Jesus would accept me and be there for me when I am doing good or bad. I think church should be loving like that."

While I am not going to let Duggan or others determine what church sould be, I do think his point about church and Jesus being more closely related is right on. Church must be the representation of Jesus in the earth. "What would Jesus do?" is the correct question. All attention and effort must be given to following the Jesus Way. Jesus stated a revolution. A revolution is a sudden, radical or complete change, especially the overthrow of a ruler and substitution of another by the governed. A revolution is a mutiny. The question for every person is, "Who is going to rule my life?"

Jesus simple said to people, "Follow me." Following Jesus means that I become completely absorbed into what is important and priority to him. I believe we are living in a time when Christ followeres are more interested in the kingdom of God than the kingdoms of this world. "Jesus is Lord," is a radical expression of understanding that The King, Jesus, rules over one's life.

Walk with me as I atempt to "take up the cross daily" and follow Jesus.

Peace,

SS

Think Great Thoughts

Our lives are controlled by our most dominant thoughts. We need to think about what we are thinking about. We have the ability to control our thoughts. Romans 8:5-9 reads, "For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him."


Too many people have empty thoughts. They give little or no attention to what enters through eye and ear gates. When people do not guard their thoughts it leaves a void. A void will be filled. Writers, singers, actors, educators, politicians, businesspersons, everyone has a message to spread to further their cause.  Someone else determines what you believe.


Others have distortional thinking. Many make negative comments like, "Nothing ever goes right for me," "Nobody likes me," and "I can’t do anything right." These kind of thoughts distort healthy successful thinking. Thoughts of infidelity, procrastination and ignoring problems lead to damaging actions. Infidelity never just happens. Cheating starts with thoughts. Ignoring problems usually leads to greater problems. Putting off unpleasant tasks causes problems and makes things more difficult.


We need to think better thoughts. Here are a few better thoughts I try to think. "My past does not define me." "I am a new creation." "God delights in things going well for me." "This trouble is not forever. It will pass." When temptations come, we must take our thoughts captive. 2 Corinthians 10:5, “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ…”


Think great thoughts.


Peace,


Stan