We share the planet with approximately 6.7 billion people. Best estimates say that there are 4,200 different types of religion. Among them are the 12 major world religions. That's a lot of statistics. When asked "Who is my neighbor?" Jesus replied:
"A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'
When Jesus then asked:"Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"
The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him."
Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."
Go and do likewise............
What does that mean in our time....
What if there was something you could do and in doing that you would be given this promise: you will always have good things to eat, you will always be healthy, your home and your city will not be left in ruins... it will be well with you. Would you do it? Would you put this promise to the test? More over you must also take some time to rest.. that is truly part of it.. you must rest and those promises will be given you... Would you put this promise to the test?
So what is that something you can do that inherits with it this promise?
Remove the chains of prisoners who are chained unjustly. Free those who are abused! Share your food with everyone who is hungry; share your home with the poor and homeless. Give clothes to those in need; don't turn away your relatives.
Don't mistreat others or falsely accuse them or say something cruel. Give your food to the hungry and care for the homeless.(Isaiah 58)
Go and do likewise means to care....
Years ago and by that I mean probably about over ten years ago I watched a news cast covering a flood in Africa. There was a picture of a woman who had tied herself to some branches in a tree and had given birth to a baby... perilous flood waters underneath her and strapped to a tree this woman was in labor. I have never met the woman nor do I know how her story ended. But the image and the story are branded within my mind.
It doesn't have to be Africa.... It can be right down the street... What do we do in the moment when an opportunity arises for us to help? What do we do? Do we rise up in the likes of what Isaiah expressed true fasting to be or are we like the priest and Levite passing the injured man on the road?
There is something stirring within me these days....... all this talk about health care and reform... all the need facing our country.... what if this is not the prime opportunity for those of us who align ourselves with Jesus to act as he would have us act within our communities....
A retired doctor offers his expertise to the community for free. A group of 200 doctors run a free clinic and 2000 show up. Google searches and web searches... find individual efforts.... A mechanic gives a day a month to single mothers. There are individual efforts all around. But what if a town worth of churches mobilized? What if we realized that the answer to the problems facing our country aren't necessarily solved by more legislation? What if we humbled ourselves, dropped our theological differences and acted in accord to the one truth .. the one command Christ left us with... LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS I HAVE LOVED YOU.... LOVE ONE ANOTHER!
Care... Care deeply that there are hungry in our city, and declare NO MORE!!! Care that there are those that are hungry and cold and without a home and scream NOT IN MY CITY..... What would happen? What would happen if we brought to the table our few fish and our loaves and invited the other churches in our city to do the same? What would happen? Wouldn't you LOVE to SEE?
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