Observation: As the lead-in to the parable of the good Samaritan, Jesus asks an "expert in the law" about the law. The man answers well, citing the two greatest commands, effectively "love God and love others". However, the man then asks Jesus to clarify ... exactly who is "my neighbor".
Yes, Jesus will use a parable to respond, and the answer is effectively 'everyone', including strangers and even those you may have low opinions of. However, it is important to note that, even though the legal expert was looking for a loophole to "justify himself", he did NOT ask the question that would be most prevalent in modern culture ... exactly who is God?
Application: There are massive numbers of people today who, if you told them to 'love God and love others,' they would have no problem at all in loving others. In fact, they would demonstrate how greatly they love others by how they champion the thoughts, opinions, and behaviors of absolutely everyone. They declare their love for others by identifying themselves as advocates and partners of people-groups who may be nothing like themselves. This very idea that Jesus promoted in the good Samaritan parable - to love everyone - is almost the defining characteristic of a good society or culture today.
However, there are massive numbers of people today who, if you told them to 'love God and love others,' they would ask ... who is God? They would be confused by the very idea of a definitive God, or even reject that idea entirely. They might wonder about how a myriad of gods and spiritual concepts has any applicability to their mission and purpose in life. They would almost certainly renounce the statement that caring about a conceptual being that probably doesn't exist - and thus demonstrating that care through obedience to ancient instructions about right behavior - has any place in their model of the proper way to live.
Many people love others, and demonstrate that by opposing the Lord, denying his existence and/or authority, and even describing his guidance for loving others wrong and 'evil'. It is this shift ... 'experts' who now know whom their neighbor is, but don't know whom the Lord God is ... that needs response today.
Prayer: Lord, you know of this change, and how the evil one has twisted the concept of loving others against our society and against you. Yes, I wish to love others better. However, I will always love you first and best. Please help your people to know how to best respond to the experts all around who know nothing of your love. Amen.
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