A lawyer stood up in the crowd to ask Jesus a question. His motives weren’t pure; he wanted to make himself look good in the eyes of the people while putting Jesus on the spot.
“So, Jesus, what exactly must I do to inherit eternal life?”
Jesus turned the question back on the lawyer, “You’re an expert in the Law. What does it say?”
The lawyer quickly recited, “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 neighbors as yourself.”
“Exactly! Do this, and you will live.”
On the defensive, the lawyer replied, “Well then, who is my neighbor?”
In reply, Jesus told the story of a man traveling on foot from Jerusalem to Jericho.
The 18-mile trek from Jerusalem to Jericho was a steep descent through rough and rocky terrain where thieves and robbers frequently hid, waiting for unsuspecting travelers to pass.
On that day, robbers attacked the lone traveler. They stripped and beat the man, stole all his belongings, and left him on the road half-dead.
The first passer-by was a priest, who saw the wounded man lying by the roadside but passed by without pausing.
The second person to pass was also a religious leader, a Levite. He, too, continued on his journey without stopping to render aid.
The third man traveling down the road was a Samaritan. Jews did not think highly of the Samaritans, and Samaritans were not fans of the Jews. Their mutual history was long, contentious, and ugly. And yet, it was the Samaritan who stopped to render aid to the Jewish traveler in desperate need. He bound up the injured man’s wounds, placed him on his animal, and took him to an inn where the Samaritan paid the expenses for his care and lodging.
Jesus turned to the lawyer, “Which of the three showed mercy? Who cared for his neighbor in his time of need?”
The answer was obvious to the lawyer and the surrounding crowds of people. “It was the one who showed mercy.”
“And Jesus said to him, ‘You go, and do likewise.”
(The Parable of the Good Samaritan – Luke 10:25-37)
Strong’s Concordance describes “mercy” as “kindness or good will towards the miserable and the afflicted, joined with a desire to help.” Mercy, grace, and compassion are exercises of love.
“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ–by grace you have been saved– and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, – Ephesians 2:4-6 ESV
Love unexpressed is of little or no value to anyone.
No doubt the priest and Levite would say they loved God with all their heart, mind, soul, and strength and loved others as they loved themselves. But in the parable, their response to one in desperate need demonstrated heartless indifference, not love.
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” – John 13:34-35 ESV
The way we love others is a testimony to the depth of our relationship with God, our obedience to His commands, and the evidence of genuine faith.
The Apostle Paul says it this way in 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. No matter how great my works may be, even if I have faith that moves mountains, if I do not have a genuine love for others – believers, family, friends, online “friends & followers,” and all those God brings within my sphere of influence – I have nothing.
If I’m not living out and extending God’s love to others, I am a “noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.” Without love, I am a loud racket without substance.
Paul goes on to explain what love looks like.
- Love is patient, kind, and never envious or boastful. It is not impatient, irritable, or resentful. Love doesn’t hold a grudge.
- Love is not arrogant or rude; it’s not selfish or controlling.
- Love rejoices in truth and rejects lies and wrongdoings.
- Love is enduring, faith-filled, hopeful, and unending.
If I consistently fail at loving God and others properly, I have failed God’s prime directive for all believers—nothing else I do or may accomplish matters.
It hurts my heart when I hear professed Christians spewing vitriol and hatred towards anyone. Whether in-person, in writing, online, or on the airways – whatever the platform—God’s truth can always be expressed respectfully and lovingly.
When we allow anger, even hate, to take over our speech and attitudes, we demolish our testimony. More importantly, we dishonor our LORD God, our Savior Jesus Christ, and the testimony of His Church.
You likely have heard it said, “If someone is going to be offended, let it be by the truth. Don’t let the offense result from how you delivered the truth.”
You can be firm, unyielding, and uncompromising when you speak truth in love.
Does God’s love control your mind, heart, spirit, words, and actions?
Are you mindful of developing a godly love for others?
“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.” – 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 NIV