Today’s
scripture:
“… You shall love your neighbor as yourself...” (Mark 12:31 NKJV)
The past few days we have gone through
each of the last six commandments, and showing how they are about mercy from
our Lord, and these last six show that we need to Love our neighbors with mercy.
Lets take a look at the word neighbor.
Who is our neighbor? According to Strong’s dictionary, neighbor means near one
or close by or fellow. In other words, anybody who is anybody even if he is an
enemy and not just who lives on your street (Luke 10:29-37).
Now, lets take a look at this part
that says “…as yourself”. Would you, if faced with the situation that you were
going to die, do what ever it takes to stay alive? You have probably heard
these stories about people who get stuck out in the middle of nowhere. They are
pinned up against a rock or a tree falls on their leg and they can’t get help.
They wait and wait for days but when they are faced with the reality and
likelihood of facing death by starving. Out of a severe desperation, they whip
out that pocketknife and start cutting away that part of their body that is
keeping them bound. You will do whatever it takes to keep yourself alive. But
what about someone else? Would you stand in harms way for a loved one? Or even
give your life to save them? Of course you would!
But here is the next question… Would
you even do that for a stranger or even more than that, someone that treats you
badly? Isn’t that what Jesus did for us? “But I say to you, love your enemies,
bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those
who spitefully use you and persecute you…For if you love those who love you,
what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?... Therefore
you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” This law calls
us to give back to what has been given to us.
How ridiculous that may sound… “You
shall be perfect just as your Father in heaven is perfect”! What Jesus is saying here is we must
strive to be like Jesus who is perfect. Anyone can love and protect someone who
is close to them like a spouse or a family member. But to actually love a
stranger or even an enemy is the ultimate love… It is PERFECT LOVE! That is
mercy to the highest degree! That type of love just tickles God’s heart!
The commonly told parable found in
Luke 10:30-35 shows the perfect story of loving your neighbor. In this passage,
a lawyer tested Jesus and trying to justify himself asked Jesus “who is my
neighbor”. In this parable Jesus said a certain man was stripped naked and
beaten so badly that he was close to death. Then Jesus said a priest who knows
God’s word but still walks by out of selfishness and just ignores him. Then a
Levite does the same thing. A Levite was someone who assisted the Temple
priests. Then Jesus says a Samaritan walked by and had compassion on the poor
soul. He not only picked him up but also bandaged up his wounds and cared for
him, and then he went the extra mile and paid for him a place to stay while he
heals up.
The priest in this passage would be
the same to say a pastor or someone that cares and leads people to Jesus by
teaching them. And a Levite would be the same as a volunteer of the church or
someone who helps the pastor or helps teachers in the church. But what is
staggering here is a Samaritan who helps the one who is about to die and being
that he came from Jerusalem would suggest he was a Jew, which would also make
him an extreme enemy with the Samaritan!
Reflection:
Giving this type of
mercy to others, even if they are your enemy, is exactly the Agape love Jesus
did for us on the cross. Doesn’t the bible say we were His enemy (Romans 5:10)?
We need to heed the law of God. The Pastors and helpers in the church aren’t
just called to teach and help, but first and foremost we ALL are called to love
our enemies. God could care less about our ministry if we are unwilling to love
unconditionally first!
Challenge:
A great place to
practice mercy is to do that on to whom you don’t want to. Go to that person
that is uncomfortable for you and watch God bless you as you do mercy for them
(pray for them, feed them, buy something for them…etc.)
-Doug McGowan
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