Okay, I am overwhelmed! I have heard from so many of you who want to Love people and honor our Jesus. Across America, through Canada, Mexico, Europe and Australia. We are part of this fantastic story about to unfold, The Kingdom Assignment.

It is not to late to join us. Click here to sign up and let Jesus change you, your kids, your spouse and let all glory fall upon the name of Christ. Thank you everyone who has written to me. I have so much to share with you as we move into this assignment. Hold on! The envelopes are almost ready to go into the mail.

The Parable of the Good Samaritan

Luke 10: 25 (NIV) On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

Do you remember that last week I asked you to revisit this parable of the Good Samaritan with a fresh perspective? For many of us, this parable’s familiarity has reduced its impact in our lives. Beginning today and through out the next few weeks of our Kingdom Assignment, we will travel this road with Jesus at our side as our Narrator. We will witness the beating, the narrow road, the travelers who pass by, their motives, their conflicts.

We will listen in as Jesus talks to the “Expert in the Law.” We will discover what the loopholes are and hear what Jesus does not say.

I wonder how much of ourselves we will discover through this retelling of this fascinating story filled with robbers, deception, beatings, healing, heroes, and villains.

The Living Word of God is astonishing in that it is fresh, it still applies and it is life changing. I need to warn you this study will make you uncomfortable. For the word of God is living and active. It judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

This passage will perhaps reveal some of our preconceptions and the tension between our orthodoxy and what it means to love others. Certainly it will challenge us to see our neighbors in a new light. I pray with fervor, your heart, my heart, will be softened by the Word’s of Jesus. Mostly I pray that when we finish this trek, Jesus will look upon our lives and say, “Well done good and faithful servant. You have loved Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. And you have loved your neighbor as yourself.”

Let’s get started:

Look at the Expert in this passage. This is a man who is well educated in the teachings of Torah and the prophets. It is likely he attended training at the Synagogue in his childhood or early adult years. I wonder if he was sincere when addressing Jesus and asking this question in which he already knew the answer? I wonder if he realized he hadn’t figured everything out yet.

I wonder if we might just share a little more in common with this man than we are willing to admit. He read his bible every day. He prayed, he really loved God. He served at church. He found it rewarding. He also talked with his friends about God and encouraged them in their daily walk. On his blog, he offered encouraging scripture passages and prayed for his visitors. Hummmm.

Do we ask Jesus questions knowing we already have the answer? If we are honest, we do. I do. Sometimes I am just not ready to live with the answer. I am not ready to give up that tiny little (or big) thing in my life the Lord has asked of me.

I wonder if you read these words and that “one” issue you are dealing with popped into your mind? Perhaps this is the one issue God wants to deal with these next few months. Are you willing to listen? Do you want to move into a new intensity with the Lord but He is waiting for you to listen? To obey?

Did I not say this journey might be uncomfortable? As I type these words, God is speaking to me of an issue he has called me to surrender and I have refused. Perhaps this is our time, our journey, our moment.

Oh Father, Abba,

I know you have called me to a new height in service and you are waiting for me to reach out and take your hand. Lord, I am afraid or unable to let go of this thing in my life. Beginning today Lord, you change me. My heart, my body, my very soul to take steps to become free from this bondage. I am unable to do it myself. You do it for me. I surrender and will look for those around me who you send to help me.

Lord, thank you for Jesus and for his teaching and example. Thank you for redemption through the blood of Christ.

Lord, change me. Change me through this journey. Teach me to love my neighbor like Jesus loves. In my Savior’s powerful name, Jesus. Amen.

Okay, I can’t wait for our next lesson: There is a loophole clause we must uncover. There are underlying tensions, and belief systems. We are gong to have a blast in the discovery. Hang on because it is God’s will we do not remain unchanged. Be Blessed, Lynn