Jesus was a radical. In the parable of the Good Samaritan, He radically changed the parameters of love. He made it at once universal and personal. Before Jesus, enemies were tolerated, if not permitted. By making the victim in His tale a Samaritan, Jesus changed all that. Samaritans were despised by Jews. They were outcasts. It was inconceivable that one would be called to love one. But so we are. The category of “enemy” is eliminated. Everyone is our brother.
But more over, Jesus required that love of neighbor be personal. It’s not good enough not to harbor ill will toward men. We must clean up their battered bodies, soothe their wounds, fill their empty bellies. Jesus is radical.
With these radical criteria we must examine our “love lives.” Do we still consider whole groups of people unloveable because of their race or religion? Do we cross them off because of their attitudes or even their actions? Do we require that they first love us or, at least be nice to us? If so, we fail to love as Jesus loved and as He demands we love.
Do we love with good wishes and kind words? If so we fall short. We are called to roll up our sleeves and be examples of love in action. We are to do more than feel sorry for the widows or weep for the orphans or sympathize with the prisoners. For the Christian, love is an action word and there is plenty to do.
Get to work and be blessed.
Nick
Posted via DraftCraft app
Be the first to reply