FBCD_FaithEssentials_June_FlipBook

Faith Essentials

HOW ARE YOU DOING?

Jesus affirmed that we are to love with our “heart, soul, strength, and mind”—this clearly indicates that we are to love broadly and deeply— with every bit of who we are. Unfortunately, we too often mimic the pattern of Old Testament Jews by drawing near to God with our lips while our hearts remain far away (Isaiah 29:13). Rather than getting bogged down in rules taught by men, we must immerse ourselves in a love relationship with the Lord. Imagine pouring water from a pitcher into a glass that sits on a countertop. If you keep pouring after the glass is full, water will overflow and spread sideways. Likewise, as you continue to grow in your vertical relationship with God, such adoration and affection should supernaturally spill out, spreading horizontally to those around you. That enables us to demonstrate part two of this great commandment, loving our neighbor as ourselves. Notice that we are not commanded to love our neighbor instead of ourselves. Just because we are instructed to consider others better than ourselves (Philippians 2:3) doesn’t mean that we aren’t to love ourselves. In fact, those who struggle to love themselves have trouble loving others as well. And once the lawyer reiterated what was written in the law, Jesus replied, “DO THIS AND YOU WILL LIVE” (Luke 10:28). The expert would not let the matter rest. The Bible says “He wanted to justify himself” (Luke 10:29, NIV). Was he trying to limit the scope of the law and thus his own responsibility? Whatever the case, this paved the way for his second question: “And who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:29). The Lord enriched the conversation, answering the question with His favorite teaching tool, the parable. This particular account tells of a man who was beaten, robbed and left to die on the road between Jerusalem and Jericho (read Luke 10:30-37). After a priest and Levite passed by without helping the man, a Samaritan stopped to help the

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