Thursday
What makes you rejoice? Jesus tells the disciples what they should rejoice in… do you know what it is?
In our reading today Jesus is training up his followers to be missionaries and leaders in the church. He sends out 72 to reach out to the surrounding towns and cities. Jesus gives them instructions and cautions them to be careful. When they return they are all excited… rejoicing in the fact that the demons obeyed them when they used Jesus’ name. Jesus is quick to point out that are real rejoicing comes not from making evil spirits submit to you, but that your name is written in the Book of Life. Can you rejoice that your name is written in the Book of Life? Jesus then prays to God, thanking God for revealing hidden things to his followers. I love when we can see God’s Hand working in and around us. When the impossible takes place. As I look around at the events that take place in our everyday lives and the struggles that I sometimes feel – I am amazed at how every time I feel frustrated or inadequate, something happens and I can clearly see God working. Projects fall into place, someone will call me on the phone and share a word from God with me – something that I needed to hear. I learn of someone inviting Jesus into their hearts and know that even though there are many “wolves” just waiting to steal my joy, there are so many moments that I can rejoice that I am a child of God.
I pray that you will find that same peace, that you too are a child of God, with your name written in the Book of Life.
Jesus is then confronted by a guy who is trying to test Him. He asks “What must I do to inherit eternal life? In other words, how do I know I have eternal salvation? And in familiar Jesus fashion, he responds with his own question. What does the bible say? The lawyer responds by quoting Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18. Love God, and love your neighbor. (I’m paraphrasing a little). Then of course the lawyer wants to know who is his neighbor. The Jews are a very prejudice people in Jesus’ time. They keep themselves away from other groups of people, and won’t interact with them. One of those groups were the Samaritan. A “good Jew” would go out of his way to not walk through Samaria and run the risk of encountering a Samaritan. So this story of the Good Samaritan must have really hit hard against the idea that Jews were superior and loved more by God.
It might have been legal for a Jew to walk past a despised Samaritan, but is it ethical? Is it the right thing to do? What Jesus tells us is to love are enemies. When you are struggling with someone you are fighting with, try showing mercy, just as the Samaritan did to his enemy.
Jesus wants us to live our salvation in our actions. Don’t just say you are a Christian, but rather show that you are a Christian. “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” James 1:22.
And remember the importance of sitting at the feet of Jesus every day!
Blessings
Pastor Kathy