Tim Keller writes, “It’s a mistake to think that you must
feel love to give it. If, for example, I
have a child, and I give up a day off to take him to a ballgame to his great
joy, at a time when I don’t particularly like him, I am in some ways being more
loving to him than if my heart were filled with affection. When you feel great delight in someone,
meeting their needs and getting their gratitude and affection in return is
extremely rewarding to your ego. At
those times you may be acting more out of the desire to get that love and
satisfaction yourself, rather than out of a desire to seek the good of the
other person.”
This Sunday the topic before us is LOVE – specifically
loving your neighbor. This topic follows
seamlessly from the first two weeks in our Beyond series. In week one, we examined Acts 26 and the
divine interruption of Saul’s life by the Lord Jesus Christ. Unless He interrupts our lives with His
grace, none of us will ever reach beyond ourselves and our own self-interest.
Then last week we were in Luke 1:67-80 and 2:39-40 to see
the biblical foundation for our engagement with the world. Remember the points of that message?
·
The Wilderness (v. 80) – With the coming of
Christ all walls of separation are broken down.
“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us full of grace and truth” John 1:14.
And Jesus calls us to break down walls of separation and connect in a
deeper way with others.
·
The Works (v. 72) – Why would anyone abandon his
isolation for the world around him?
Because that’s exactly what Jesus did for you. By His works we are free to do His work.
·
The Witness (vvs. 76-78) – Why does anyone ever
want to go beyond himself and his own needs?
Because he knows what it’s like to experience the satisfaction of God’s
grace in Jesus Christ.
On Sunday we move inexorably toward our Beyond kickoff by
turning to Luke 10 and the story of the Good Samaritan. Eleven years ago, on Christmas Eve, I first
preached this text at Hebron. For many,
it was the first time they were to see themselves in the story not as one of
the two passersby, or the Samaritan, but as the guy in the ditch. You see, Jesus is the true Good Samaritan,
and He’s the One who has compassion on us, healing our wounds and paying all
costs.
But this week I want to focus on another aspect of this
incident by looking at how it is possible to do what Jesus tells this teacher
of the law to do in verse 28. How is it
possible to love my neighbor when I don’t like him? Why go Beyond myself to meet the needs of
another in the name of Jesus when I don’t even know him? Moreover, if love is an emotion, how can it
be commanded?
These are the questions before us this Sunday. In preparation for our study you may wish to
consider the following:
1. Note
the immediate context of Luke 10:25-37.
Read Chapter 10:1-24.
2. In
what way is the lawyer’s question a test?
3. What
is the SHEMA?
4. How
does this lawyer prove that he understands the essence of God’s law? (Note: Deut. 6:5 and Leviticus 19:9-18.)
5. On
what grounds does Jesus command love in verse 28?
6. How
does the “eternal life”, referenced by the lawyer, relate to the words of Jesus
in verse 28(b)?
7. In
what way was the lawyer wishing to justify himself in verse 29?
8. How
does the Good Samaritan do what Jesus commands in verse 28?
9. How
does loving your neighbor imply real life?
10. How does
the cross vividly demonstrate Jesus loving His neighbor?
See you at His table this Sunday!
