The Foundational Principles
Notes
Transcript
Questions are powerful.
Questions are powerful.
It is great to be the one who asks them. It is not so great when you are the one being asked. For some of us we are great at asking questions, typically of ourselves, can be discouraging. This morning I believe I will ask more questions than provide answers. I apologize in advance. Yet, in my own anxiety, which gets the best of me some weeks, I rush to provide the answers so I can feel competent and look like I know what I am doing. But, in so doing I may be stifling the Spirit among us and/or stifling others from growing.
What about the future?
What about the future?
I know this is one of my primary questions I ask each week. As I look at what is coming what does the future hold for me, my family, and us as a church? For the lawyer he is asking a similar question.
“At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered. Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. But you, Daniel, roll up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge.”
This is the context of the interaction we have in this passage of Luke. I think it is extremely important. The lawyer wants to make sure that in the day of salvation he is part of the delivered group.
Eternal life is more than salvation.
Eternal life is more than salvation.
The man was not concerned with being “saved” as we have come to know eternal life. He was picking up on the promises of Scripture and saying in essence, “When God’s kingdom comes to Earth, how can I make sure I am part of it?” “When the Kingdom comes I want to be in it, be blessed by God, what do I do to be present?”
Love and action go together.
Love and action go together.
Sometimes in our concern to not show others that we are saved by what we do we unintentionally overemphasis grace and love. However, for Scripture there is no contradiction between grace and works, love and deeds go hand in hand.
Do you seek bare minimum “requirements”?
Do you seek bare minimum “requirements”?
The lawyer seems to want to know what is the minimum aspect of the commands. He wanted to vindicate himself. Here I see myself. Here I see sometimes we as the church, God’s people. In this small and short statement I see our culture and world. At times there is nothing wrong with this type of thinking. Other times we use it to vindicate what we really want instead of what Christ asks.
“ ‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.
“ ‘When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.
Will we be known as “anti” people?
Will we be known as “anti” people?
To some extent the wording used to describe the Priest and Levite focuses, as Luke tells this story of Jesus, on being “anti”. There is no assignment of motive and here I can only imagine the inner struggle the two first individuals had to deal with. There is a struggle in loving God and the duty to be clean, and the duty to love neighbor.
Will we let love grow?
Will we let love grow?
No, not in losing our foundational beliefs? We must never compromise the truths of Scripture with a cultural definition of love. But will we let love grow within us that we are willing and able to show it to others. Will we let the love of Jesus grow in us to provide healing.
What is Jesus saying “go and do likewise”?
What is Jesus saying “go and do likewise”?
Is it being baptized? Is it being a member of our imperfect church serving our perfect Lord? It is sitting at the feet of Jesus (the next story in Luke)? Is it accepting ministry as your vocation and job in life? Is it ________?
Total commitment beats minimum requirements every time.
Total commitment beats minimum requirements every time.
That is why we must surrender it all and follow.