A Note From the Pastor…
This is a familiar story that I have shared here before. It is a story about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody and Nobody. There was an important job to be done and Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that, because it was Everybody’s job. Everybody thought Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn’t do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have.
As we continue our series, On the Road Again, we are coming to a very familiar story – The Good Samaritan from the Gospel according to Luke. According to scholars, “The Jews would not allow them (the Samaritans) in the temple; they would not have any dealings with them; they would not associate with them.” The parable highlights the fact that although two other so called “religious persons” passed this wounded traveler, (think “Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, & Nobody), but it was the reviled Samaritan that actually practices a godly love for his neighbor.
The Good Samaritan seems to have wanted to see the man by the side of the road “restored” back to health – not just made comfortable! Christ and His Apostles spoke many things about what the love of God truly looks like. We are to love our “enemies,” (Matthew 5:44) but we are also commanded, “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good,” (Romans 12:9). John 3:16 reminds us, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” This passage so eloquently reminds us that God’s Love in unconditional in that He sent His only Son to die for our sins – but His loving reward of eternal life is always conditional upon us accepting and following His Son as our Savior.
Pastor Chris
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