~ A Practical Example of Love
~
Series Scripture
~ Jesus said, “These things I
have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be
full. This is My commandment, that you
love one another as I have loved you. Greater
love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I
command you. No longer do I call you
servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have
called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made
known to you. You did not choose Me, but
I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your
fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give
you. These things I command you, that
you love one another” (John 15:11-17).
Post Scripture
~ The parable of the Good
Samaritan.
“And behold,
a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, ‘Teacher, what shall I do to
inherit eternal life?’ He said to him, ‘What
is written in the law? What is your
reading of it?’ So he answered and said,
‘“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul,
with all your strength, and with all your mind,” and “your neighbor as
yourself.”’ And He said to him, ‘You
have answered rightly; do this and you will live.’ But he, wanting to justify himself, said to
Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbor?’ Then
Jesus answered and said: ‘A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho,
and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and
departed, leaving him half dead. Now by
chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other
side. Likewise a Levite, when he arrived
at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed,
came where he was. And when he saw him,
he had compassion. So he went to him and
bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal,
brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to
the innkeeper, and said to him, “Take care of him; and whatever more you spend,
when I come again, I will repay you.” So
which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the
thieves?’ And he said, ‘He who showed
mercy on him.’ Then Jesus said to him,
‘Go and do likewise’” (Luke 10:25-37, c.f. Matthew 22:34-40 and Mark 12:28-34).
Additional Comments
~ Priests and Levites were
religious leaders. Samaritans were
despised by society. If you truly love
God first—then you can meaningfully serve others.
~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW
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