Don’t Walk By! 

The two of them were coming from the “place” of worship …They saw him.. He was in trouble. He had suddenly, unexpectedly been jumped on, beaten and left “in a ditch,” as it were …They had come from the “place” of worship but no heart for the One who is to be worshipped who desired they love others! They were well “versed” in the Word of God and the things of God but were devoid of what God required, namely LOVE for Him and LOVE for Others! Their deed of walking by revealed the bankruptcy of their heart at that moment. You can be well educated in the things of God and miss the heart of God! They made a choice and walked on by ..The beaten up man REVEALED their true heart condition! Someone else’s sorrows,difficulties are often an indicator and insight into what is going on in our own lives and our walk with God.

 

” But God…” He saw, He knew, He cared, He wanted to teach His hearers what He valued and desired , namely Love . He sent a ” good Samaritan,” who SAW.. STOPPED…STOOPED, TO SERVE ANOTHER IN NEED, BY SHOWING COMPASSION. He did LOVE! He took the battered man to a safe place and provided for him and left instructions if the man needed anything he would be back to take care of his needs. It was not enough that he took him to a place of safety but he went the second mile and dud not forget him but promised to take care of any need the man had. It was not a matter about was it a “good time” for him to stop, was it an inconvenient time for him. What mattered Jesus teaches is PEOPLE….loving people for Jesus sake {2 cor 4:5}

The two had come from the “place” of worship ” But Jesus…” Shows is it is not where you have come from, BUT what you DO… Do love !!!

Love is the priority!

Someone’s “need,” is your opportunity to DO LOVE.. Your need is someone else’s opportunity to SHOW LOVE! –

” But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity. Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.  Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my affliction. You yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel, after I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone; for even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs. Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to your account.  But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God. And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.  Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen. “ –  { Phil 4:10:19}

 

“Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness; you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying the needs of the ]saints, but is also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God.  Because of the proof given by this ministry, they will glorify God for your obedience to your confession of the gospel of Christ and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all, while they also, by prayer on your behalf, yearn for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! “- {2 Cor 9:10-15}. “The surpassing grace of God in you,” was manifested when upon hearing of the peoples need out of their poverty gave sacrificially and hilariously, and God’s verdict was to say,”God a cheerful giver, God LOVES.”  …”For it is superfluous for me to write to you about this ministry to the saints; for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the Macedonians, namely, that Achaia has been prepared since last year, and your zeal has stirred up most of them.”-{2 COR 9:1-2}. Their seeing the need acted upon it and look at the outcome? They had an influence upon others, but not all as it says,”most of them.” Their living to give of themselves and what they had to help those in need had a Godly influence on “most” of the others by their example. It says “they gave out of their poverty.” They were not waiting for circumstances to change favorably but seeing the need acted upon it. But what was their motivation? “…For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.-{2 Cor 9:8] 

The motivation was the LOVE OF CHRIST for them. He saw, He gave Himself and now they see and they give themselves and what they have to meet others. They were comfortable in their own skin and sacrifical in their loving others in need. Paul said ” They  first GAVE Themselves…” this is always the begining the giving of oneself to the LORD and the giving of one self to the benefit of others. “And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.  For I testify that they gave as much as they were able,and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own,  they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people.  And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. So we urged Titus, just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you —see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

NOTE their position- “in extreme poverty and severe testing…” NOTE also their heart of love…they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. “- They saw it as “a PRIVILEGE ” to meet the needs of God’s people who were in dire distress!  And this we read was a result of “the Surpassing GRACE OF GOD at work IN YOU!…” Grace worked IN them was Worked out Through them in a practical Loving way… meeting the needs of those whom they heard of! Grace is manifested through these dear ones. Grace was at work IN them and THROUGH them .

 

NEEDS ARE ONE STEP AWAY FROM GOD BEING GLORIFIED!

We read in 2 Cor 8 that God was GLORIFIED! How? the people who had need when it was met were overflowing with THANKS.. and thanksgiving GLORIFIES GOD… How sweet and tender this is for us as a lesson, You want to see God glorified? Practically, find someone who has a need, love them and as they turn and THANK HIM… He is GLORIFIED through their thanksgiving. Someone’s need, whether yours or others can result in God being glorified as the need is met, as they or you say,”Thank You, LORD,” He is glorified!!! {Read 2 Cor 9:12-13}.:There are always opportunities to potentially…GLORIFY God.

“We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his [a]heart [b]against him, how does the love of God abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.” By this ALL Men will know you are My disciples by YOUR LOVE for One another”- {John 13:34-35}.” DO GOOD to ALL Men and Especially to those of the hosehold of faith.”- {Gal 6}

The greatest commandment is to love God and the next is to love your neighbor , The Lord Jesus teaches. Who is my neighbor ? It includes as He shows the one who is in need !

It is not a matter of  the “Place”  we have come from,  be it a church service, Bible studies- it is not about a “place,”  but PEOPLE…

Pray He continually opens your eyes of the heart  to ” see” and SHOW LOVE.. As John in the above passage teaches love is as simple as meeting a need when it is in your power … Pray I see and do love.

True Worship is not about a “place” but about a PERSON- Loving God and about PEOPLE – loving others… Don’t Walk By.. Choose to…” DO LOVE!”… Anyone come to mind?