August 10, 2023: When The Tables Turn

"Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?" (Luke 10:36, ESV)

A lawyer comes to test Jesus, "Which is the greatest commandment?" Jesus answers him with a question, "What do you think it is?" To which the lawyer replies, "Love God and love each other." Great answer, Jesus says. "Now go do it." Obviously, this lawyer had a guilty conscience because now he attempts to justify himself. He asks more questions to avoid applying the truth he knows he has been ignoring. So many live in that realm. The truth has pricked the heart, but they create questions designed for one purpose: to keep from having to change.
    
It is here that Jesus tells the story of the Good Samaritan. He is now turning the tables on the lawyer and is testing him. The lawyer had the right question but the wrong application. Our scripture starts with, "Who is my neighbor?" but Jesus changes it to "What kind of neighbor are you?" Jesus changes the question from "What kind of people do I want to love? To: How can I love the people God places before me?"

Each of us has a little bit of 'lawyer' in us. Let's 'see' the person in front of us and learn to love well those God places before us. Agape love seeks the good of others and often at a price or sacrifice.