Monday, January 28, 2013

The Story of My Life as told by Jesus Christ

(Seed Sowers Christian Book Publishing House. http://www.seedsowers.com/)

Monday, January 28, 2013 The Religious Experts Tested Me         

Page 182-183         Luke 10:25-37

I smiled when I read the opening line, ^“One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question. . .” (Luke 10:25). Seriously? But Jesus never misses an opportunity to witness for his Father. I probably should make note of this.

In the introduction to the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus makes clear that God’s isn’t calling us to try and be better people. God is inviting us into His Kingdom, where life is altogether different than it is in this present age. The contrast between life in the Kingdom of God and the world’s culture is illustrated by the religious leader when he revealed he approved of the commandment to love his neighbor as himself, as long as he was the one determining his neighbors. The world’s culture is focused on self-gratification and self-justification rather than an outward-bound focus on the needs of others. (See Philippians 2:4-5)

We can see that Jesus is not simply calling his followers to be good moral people. He is calling his followers to come with him to live in a new realm, the Kingdom of God, where life is altogether different. Here all people are valued as the precious creation of God. What does that look like?

”Jesus replied with a story: “A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. . .”

Humankind has passed Good Samaritan laws, making it a crime to not stop and offer help to a person in distress. Perhaps well intentioned, these laws miss Jesus’ point. Life in the Kingdom of God isn’t about codified behavior. Life in the Kingdom lives in the freedom of grace:

Law says do

Grace says done

Law emphasizes what man does

Grace emphasizes what God does

Law lives out of the flesh life (self-Life)

Grace lives out of the Spirit (Christ Life)

Law draws on man's resources

Grace draws on God's resources

Law deals with externals: rules, standards, regulations

Grace deals with inner - heart attitude

Law's primary focus is: ought to, should've, have to, must

Grace's primary focus is on want to

Law creates bondage, duty, and obligation

Grace creates freedom

Law lives from the outside in

Grace lives from the inside out

Law declares do in order to be

Grace declares you are, therefore do

Law produces guilt, condemnation

Grace produces acceptance, security

Law leads to defeat

Grace leads to Victory!

Sē’lah

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What word or phrase in today’s reading attracts your attention?

Reflect on that word or phrase.

What insights come to you?

How does this passage touch your life today?

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  In addition to this BLOG they are distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com. The BLOG is also available on Amazon Kindle, by subscription.

The Story of My Life as told by Jesus Christ

(Seed Sowers Christian Book Publishing House. http://www.seedsowers.com/)

Tuesday, January 29, 2013          I Again Healed on the Sabbath    

Page 187      Luke 14:1-6