“…he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:29)
Any human being who needs our sympathy and our kind efforts is our neighbor. The suffering and destitute of all classes are our neighbors; and when their wants are brought to our knowledge, it is our duty to relieve them as far as possible. By this parable our duty to our fellow mankind is forever settled. We are to care for every case of suffering and to look upon ourselves as God’s agents to relieve the needy to the very uttermost of our ability. We are to be laborers together with God.
There are some who manifest great affection for their relatives, for their friends and favorites, who yet fail to be kind and considerate to those who need tender sympathy, who need kindness and love. With earnest hearts let us inquire, Who is my neighbor? Our neighbors are not merely our associates and special friends; they are not simply those who belong to our church, or who think as we do. Our neighbors are the whole human family. We are to do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. We are to give to the world an exhibition of what it means to carry out the law of God. We are to love God supremely and our neighbor as ourselves. {WM 45.2-3}
In all the work you are given, do the best you can. Work as though you are working for the Lord, not any earthly master. (Col 3:23,ERV)
Since the Creation, God has given us work to do. If we could regard our work as an act of worship or service to God, such an attitude would take some of the drudgery and boredom out of it. We could work without complaining or resentment if we would treat our job problems as the cost of discipleship.
As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. (John 9:4, NIV)
Think of our Lord Jesus being under the necessity of working:
“I must work.” (John 9:4)
Some people say that the word “must” in the verse is “just for the king;” but here is the King of kings declaring that the work is, by the most urgent necessity, laid upon Him. In return will not you, beloved brethren and sisters in Christ, come under this same divine necessity? Why would we not feel that we also must be doing all we can with and for our Divine Lord and Master?
Christ cured many who were blind by disease or accident; here he cured one born blind. Thus he showed his power to help in the most desperate cases, and the work of his grace upon the souls of sinners, which gives sight to those blind by nature. This poor man could not see Christ, but Christ saw him. And if we know or apprehend anything of Christ, it is because we were first known of him.
A lot of people do not have the “I must Work” mind set. I recently encountered a young lady passed out in the hot sun and the cement sidewalk at a drive through fast food place. Her legs were actually resting on the pavement where cars were driving through. Everyone just kept driving past her, ignoring her completely! I was shocked to see so many people do that. But I thanked God that I got there when I did and was able to give her the help she needed.
“As long as I am in the world,” Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.” Then having anointed the eyes of the blind man, He sent him to wash in the pool of Siloam, and the man’s sight was restored. Thus Jesus answered the question of the disciples in a practical way, as He usually answered questions put to Him from curiosity. The disciples were not called upon to discuss the question as to who had sinned or had not sinned, but to understand the power and mercy of God in giving sight to the blind. It was evident that there was no healing virtue in the clay, or in the pool wherein the blind man was sent to wash, but that the virtue was in Christ. {DA 471.4}
“Dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.” These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit. But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy…(Jude 1:17-23)
Although they were to build themselves up, and to pray in the Holy Ghost, and keep themselves in the love of God, yet this building, praying, and keeping, cannot merit heaven; for, after all their diligence, earnestness, self-denial, watching, obedience, etc., they must look for the Mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ, to bring them to Eternal Life.
Don’t be like all those who drove past that young lady in acute distress and then try to justify yourself by calling yourself a “christian.” Jesus won’t accept such hypocrisy. As Jude says: “Keep yourselves in the main current of God’s love. Build your character after the likeness of Christ. Pray in the Holy Spirit; keep at the open door/window of hope in Christ.
Remember that at one time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. (Eph 2:12-13)
It seems that a special revelation was needed to teach people about God’s love. Nature alone cannot teach it, because of its uniformity; Providence alone cannot, because of its perplexity; Judaism could not, because of the sternness of its law; and heathenism could not, because of its coarse polytheistic and sensual associations.
The difficulty of receiving it lies in our own natures, enfeebled and degraded by sin. Our consciousness of sin makes us think God unloving, just as the erring child thinks the father cruel, and the faithless person with the one talent thought their master hard and unjust. As revealed, the love of God is no mere statement; it is an exhibited love, exhibited in a recovering purpose, in a priceless gift, in a mysterious sacrifice. But, as revealed, it needs appropriation by us. When appropriated it becomes a power to change our spirit and our life. It changes our views of God, life, duty, eternity, etc. We see all in the light of “crucified love.”
In our earthly life we know the help and the joy of keeping in the love of mother, wife, or friend. It must be more helpful and more blessed to keep in the love of God. To lose the light of God’s love is more—far more—than losing the sunlight off the flowers. How shall we keep ourselves in the love of God?
Cherish every loving thought of God that may be suggested to you.
Walk in righteousness, and you will ever be in the smiles of the love.
Watch over all your opportunities of heart-fellowship with Christ, for friendship needs communion.
Cultivate the child-spirit. Illustrate by our Lord putting the child in the midst of the people. No doubting in the child-heart. But can this counsel apply to all, “keep in the love”? Do we all believe the love which God hath unto us? Are any living on in sin, because they do not believe the love? Have you felt how God’s love to sinners shines forth from Calvary? I beseech you then, Come into the love, that we may be able to say also unto you, “Keep yourselves in the love of God.”
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom. (Eccl 9:10, NIV)
In His ministry, Jesus would often reveal the total sinfulness of “every nation, tongue, tribe, and people,” and yet, Jesus offers His salvation to all. Only Jesus breaks down the walls of prejudice, reconciles all believers to God, and unifies us in one body. No matter who we are, we are only “one in Christ” because of the cross. (Gal 6:14). There is nothing for us without Christ and his cross. Jesus has paved us a new and living way to the throne of God’s grace by his own most precious blood.