Are You Up to the Task?

~~~ Galatians 1:6-12 ~~~ Psalm 111 ~~~ Luke 10:25-37 ~~~

“You shall love the Lord, your God,

with all your heart,

with all your being,

with all your strength,

and with all your mind,

and your neighbor as yourself.”

Loving God with our whole heart, mind,

 body and soul is easier said than done,

but loving your neighbor as yourself poses 

the greater challenge.

The words we speak are as empty shells if our actions do not follow.

Our task from Jesus is accomplished through our actions.

Even in our desire to love God we hold back...

we hesitate to fully embrace our verbal commitment.

Jesus tells a story calling a educated follower

 to reconsider his commitment to follow Jesus.

This legal scholar intends to challenge Jesus,

 instead Jesus turns the tables and challenges him.

Jesus always gives us choices.

Sometimes these choices have their particular limitations.

 “The one who treated him with mercy.”

Mercy...kind or forgiving treatment 

of someone who could be treated harshly. 

When you consider this customary definition of mercy,

what comes to mind?

The person in the Gospel story extended care for a complete stranger.

He came upon this person while he was set 

on a journey for another purpose.

He interrupted his journey to help someone 

less fortunate than he was.

Are you willing to help another person even 

if it means an interruption in your own plans?

Joyfully, I know a couple people would do fall into that category.

Not only did the man in Jesus' story stop 

and render aid he went even made arrangements for his future care.

The willingness of the person to follow up on the victim

 sets him far apart from most everyone else.

How far are you willing to go to render aid to a person in need?

Loving your neighbor as yourself is no easy task.

Blessings will be available as they are needed...

if we but ask.

~~~Peace~~~