Today's Scripture
The Path of Mercy – Luke 10:25-37
25 Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” 27 He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.”
29 But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
RJ's Devotion
What the passage says
V. 25-28 A lawyer, at that time, comes to Jesus and asks, ‘What must we do to inherit eternal life?’ Jesus gives the greatest commandment to ‘Love God and Love others.’
V. 29-36 Then the lawyer asks, ‘who is my neighbor.’ Jesus’ reply was the parable of the Good Samaritan.
V. 37 Jesus ends by echoing his comment in v. 28, ‘Go and do likewise.’
What does the passage say to me/us?
Salvation is a free gift. ‘Whoever believes that God so loved the world to send His one and only Son will have eternal life.’ (John 3:16)
But why was Jesus saying, two times in this passage, to ‘do this (Great Commandment) and live’ (v. 28) or ‘Go and do likewise (Good work)’ (v. 37).
Does it mean that ‘Good work’ is a prerequisite of salvation?
I do not think so. However, I do know that when we really see and understand the grace that is given through Jesus, we are bounded to respond to that love.
The grace will lead us to truly love God and love others. It is not a requirement of salvation, but it becomes an evidence of our Salvation.
There are many reasons why people does not consider Christianity seriously. What if the main reason is because we do not live a life worthy of the grace.
Then the command of Jesus, telling us to ‘do this (Great commandment) and live,’ means that we need to live out our grace.
This is an important question as we prepare for the encounter on Easter Sunday.
Do we live as the evidence of Ressurection?
Prayer
Lord, help us to remember the true meaning of your grace. Help us to live worthy of your grace.
In Christ’s name, we pray, AMEN
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