For our 25th anniversary
celebration I planned a trip for my wife to a place she has always dreamed of
visiting: New Zealand!
I planned this trip for months in advance,
meticulously taking care of even the tiniest details so that everything would be
ideal. I ran into a hitch, however, at one of the bed and breakfast
establishments. The place had the best location in the entire city, right on a
hill with a view over the town and the Pacific Ocean. All that, and it was also
affordable! The only problem was this: The Pacific View room, the room with the
best view, had already been reserved, and I had no choice but to choose a
different room.
I was disappointed, but I left the whole matter in
God's hands. After all, He knows what is best for us! A few months later, when
we actually entered this fine establishment, the owner had some great news for
us. "When the people who reserved the Pacific View room learned the couple who
were celebrating their 25th anniversary were coming here, they insisted to give
you their room. You will have the best view in the house!"
We couldn't believe our ears. God had come through
again. I was even more astonished that these people who didn't hesitate to offer
up their room for complete strangers, were Muslims. How humbling! What manner of
love was this, anyway?
One day an expert of the law came to Jesus and asked
Him: "And who is my neighbor?" (Luke 10:29 NIV)
Imagine being that expert of the law in those days.
The only thing you know are your fellow believers and the only ones you may
consider worthy of being your neighbours are the ones you worship with. Sad
attitude, I know!
Jesus revolutionizes this concept with a simple
parable. A man travelling from Jerusalem to Jericho was attacked by some thugs
who beat him to a pulp and left him to die.
Laying there on the road, a priest came by. You would
think that a man of the cloth would stop to help, but he did the opposite! Maybe
he was running late for a meeting, but since when is our priority list more
important that loving others the way Jesus did?
The next one to pass by was a pastor (A Levite in
Jesus' story). He, too, would be expected to come to the assistance of this poor
man. Instead he pretended the victim didn't exist. It's true that many pastors
have very little time. But does this justify such actions?
The third one was a terrorist (A Samaritan in the real
story, but Samaritans were considered terrorists in those days!). There's no way
this guy would stop! If he did, it would probably be to blow the poor victim
into the next county!
But he did the opposite. He stopped, he attended the
victim's wounds, and then he loaded the bleeding, nearly-dead man into his
brand-new Porche and drove him to a nearby Hilton. Here he covered all expenses,
including care, insisting that he wanted this guy cared for until he was
completely well.
"Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to
the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" Asked Jesus. (Luke 10:36 NIV)
Imagine being that poor soul, and find yourself waking
up in a deluxe environment, with people taking care of you, all thanks to a
terrorist! Then you are made aware that those elite believers in your
congregation didn't even lift a finger to help you. How would you feel? Who
showed you mercy? Wouldn't this confuse you?
I know this whole parable is a bit hard to swallow.
But aren't we, as Christians, supposed to love like Jesus did? Why didn't the
priest or the pastor stop to help this pour guy?
Good question! However if we are truly honest, we also
have had our fair share of disappointments with people we considered "followers
of the Way". Labeling ourselves as Christians doesn't make us one!
What a lesson we receive from those who are not
supposed to love like this! Fortunately, God's love is not reserved for an elite
group. All of us are His children, and accordingly, He reaches out to each one
of us. Jesus urges us to love in the same way!
When we don't show God's love in our lives, however,
we are broadcasting that we are fakes: "They claim to know God, but by their
actions they deny him." (Titus 1:16 NIV)
Love cannot exist if we have no room for the One who
is called the Lover of our soul!
"Great news! I have an update for you. You will have
the best room in the house!" What a day that will be, when we are finally home
with our Heavenly Father!
Rob Chaffart
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
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