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An expert in the Jewish law wanted to test Jesus, the great teacher of
the multitudes, so he asked Jesus a simple question, “What do I have to do to
guarantee eternal life?’
Jesus responds with a question, “You’re the expert. How do you read it?”
“Put God first,” was the lawyer’s reply. “Love him with every fiber of
your being. Take care of your neighbor as you would your own family. Love your
neighbor as you love your own life.”
“Well said,” Jesus shot back. “I think you’ve answered your own
question.”
The lawyer, now feeling a little foolish, wishing to regain some sense of
honor and authority asked, “Well, just who is my neighbor?”
Thus begins one of Jesus’ greatest
parables, a story of two people who should hate one another, but instead offer
and receive help when others refuse to get involved.
Our society is being divided up. We are faced with an “Us vs. Them”
mentality. We are more concerned with being right than being righteous, with being "correct" than being faithful, We have groups within our own country who are more divided, more
hateful, more antagonistic of one another than the Jews and the Samaritans ever
were. Jesus speaks to the very heart of this division.
“What is saving faith?” we ask. “How much faith is enough faith?” we want
to know. Sometimes we become “experts” in the word. We go to meetings, attend
worship services, gather for prayer and study with like-minded Christians.
Jesus calls us to the road. He invites us on a journey. We’ve experienced
love and grace. The question is whether or not we are ready to extend that love
and grace to the rest of the world.
“When is faith enough?” When it will not be content with living life in a
way that allows us to watch most of the world lying half-dead in a ditch and
walk on by.
Pastor Craig
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