Morning all, I'm filling-in for Andrew this AM.
Hey, have you heard the one about the Jewish guy, the muggers, and the first aider? Thought so. It is probably the most well known parable and the most written about, so I won't say too much on it...other than to offer this modern parallel.
A friend of mine from South Africa ran a course in Moral Theology at Stellenboch University. The final exam was coming up and he told the class that it would be held early in the morning, in a room on the other side of Campus, and any students who were not on time would be locked-out and fail the course!
On the day of the exam, the students rushing to the exam room had to step over or around a disheveled, smelly, African man lying slumped over on the pathway to the exam room door. Of the 25 students in the class (all professing Christians, a mixture of Africans and whites), only one stopped to help the man...and that (white) girl was the only one to pass the course! Helping the man (actually an African pastor play-acting!) was the only exam question that had to be answered.
And the question for me, you, us, is who do we step over in our daily lives? Who do we find difficult to love and/or know who needs love? We should also remember, the Samaritan was only the "first responder" - he didn't have to do it all. He used the inn-keeper to help and got on with his journey, but kept his interest (just as Heidi and Roland use a network of helpers).
As for the pic of the armoured vehicle (above), oddly enough it is actually called a "Samaritan" and is designed to keep medics safe while recovering wounded lying exposed on the battlefield. It brought to my mind that as Christians it will not always be safe to be Samaritans, and indeed we cannot go 'round hiding in our 'tank' caring only when it is safe (e.g within our congregation). We have to expose ourselves. After all the original Samaritan didn't know if the robbers were still around when he stopped to help. I think Eph 6:13-18 shows the best "armoured vehicle" to use in the Samaritan role!
Hey, have you heard the one about the Jewish guy, the muggers, and the first aider? Thought so. It is probably the most well known parable and the most written about, so I won't say too much on it...other than to offer this modern parallel.
A friend of mine from South Africa ran a course in Moral Theology at Stellenboch University. The final exam was coming up and he told the class that it would be held early in the morning, in a room on the other side of Campus, and any students who were not on time would be locked-out and fail the course!
On the day of the exam, the students rushing to the exam room had to step over or around a disheveled, smelly, African man lying slumped over on the pathway to the exam room door. Of the 25 students in the class (all professing Christians, a mixture of Africans and whites), only one stopped to help the man...and that (white) girl was the only one to pass the course! Helping the man (actually an African pastor play-acting!) was the only exam question that had to be answered.
And the question for me, you, us, is who do we step over in our daily lives? Who do we find difficult to love and/or know who needs love? We should also remember, the Samaritan was only the "first responder" - he didn't have to do it all. He used the inn-keeper to help and got on with his journey, but kept his interest (just as Heidi and Roland use a network of helpers).
As for the pic of the armoured vehicle (above), oddly enough it is actually called a "Samaritan" and is designed to keep medics safe while recovering wounded lying exposed on the battlefield. It brought to my mind that as Christians it will not always be safe to be Samaritans, and indeed we cannot go 'round hiding in our 'tank' caring only when it is safe (e.g within our congregation). We have to expose ourselves. After all the original Samaritan didn't know if the robbers were still around when he stopped to help. I think Eph 6:13-18 shows the best "armoured vehicle" to use in the Samaritan role!
Other things that jump out at me in Ch 10...
10:3 - because in one of my Bibles "Go" is translated as "Courage" (i.e., trust me);
10:19 - because yesterday afternoon when Helen turned on our en suite shower, a juvenile Dugite slithered up out of the drain! Bible study at our place anyone?
We are pretty hands-on over here!
We are pretty hands-on over here!
10:20 - because we are to rejoice not in the power to cast out evil spirits (for the power is not 'ours'), but that we are doing Kingdom work (i.e., chasing God, not the gifts) and giving Him pleasure;
10:42 - because "but one thing is needed"... 'nough said!
Grace, and Peace to you all.
JB
5 comments:
As many of you know, my sister was assaulted and died in September in suburban Perth. It was as if time stood still. I took two weeks off work and another two weeks for school holidays. During that time I was in no hurry to do anything, which if you know me is very much unlike me. You could have likened me to the white rabbit from the popular tale,"Alice in Wonderland", who ran from place to place with a mobile phone to replace the clock.
I had many conversations during that time; a saleswoman at the furniture shop who was having trouble conceiving, a colleague who had lost her baby at 38 weeks, a friend who was molested at 11 by a cousin, the list goes on...For once I had taken the time to listen, I know my 'neighbour' is never far, God give me the perspective not to step over those in need. Amen.
Hi Sherrie, only having met you a fortnight ago I am so very sorry to hear about your sister; my prayer for you is that the Comforter ministers to you daily (Mt 5:4).
As to your comments, I only just read this this morning and it echoes your words.."How I treat a brother or sister from day to day, how I react to the wino on the street, how I respond to interruptions from people I dislike, how I deal with normal people in their normal confusion on a normal day may be a better indication for my reverence for life than the anti-abortion sticker on my car...We are pro-life to the extent that we are men and women for others, all others; to the extent that no human flesh is a stranger to us; to the extent that we can touch the hand of another in love; to the extent that for us there are no 'others'." from "The Ragamuffin Gospel"
V20 struck me too... the most exciting miracle is that Jesus saved me and I need to be continuously thankful for that!
Couple of things from the book also:
P57 "How arrogant it would be for me to pray for the believers in Mozambique with their bountiful riches in heaven. We need their prayers - to break our love of comfort and dependence on the riches of this world."
P49 "Don't waste your time consuming what makes you weak. Spend your time pressing in for the Presence. Become so intimate with
Jesus, so full of Him, that it does not matter what challenges in life present themselves to you. You will be so spiritually full that you can feed a multitude of other people's needs."
If I think about what consumes my time as opposed to what consumed Jesus, or the Bakers... Jesus sometimes is neglected for a good Novel or a favoutite TV show! What opportunities for intimacy - reaching into God - do I miss because of stuff that adds not a jot to my relationship with Him!
I am not suggesting that I should not relax - but relaxation cannot be at the expense of my relationship with God - in all His forms! The relaxation of my body and mind only needs to be after that of my soul. He is my peace.
Thanks Jim for helping out while I have been resting and relaxing at Peppermint Grove Beach just south of Bunbury.
I love your modern day parallel. I think most of us would agree with this parable and yet we so often don't even see "our neighbour" in need. I would say that busyness and fear are two of the biggest deterrents. Just like Martha later in this chapter we are "distracted" by the "preparations" of life and are "worried and upset about many things". May we learn to "choose what is better" in life.
Thanks Sherrie for your words of encouragement :)
Rosaleen, so true. I need to be continually encouraged to take small steps in this direction otherwise it can all just become "too hard."
Not sure if anyone will read this now that its Wed 14th, but thanks all for your comments. It stikes me that we must treat everyone as Jesus would, and take the time like Sherrie did to listen to others even in the midst of her own need. Thanks Rosaleen for the encouragement to eat the good food rather than junk; to spend our time on that which is worthwhile.
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