One emotion, Seven Actions

“And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, ‘Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life’ .” (Luke10.25)

In those days, only those who knew the Word of God were considered lawyers – they were lawyers of the Word of God. So that lawyer speaking to Jesus certainly was not ignorant of God’s Word. He was so aware of it that he even quoted the strongest passage in the entire Bible: ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and ‘your neighbour as yourself.’

So, this man was well aware of what the Word of God said but he wasn’t sure of his salvation. Jesus’ response to him was, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.” Meaning, that the lawyer was dead!

The same goes for many people today, although they are breathing, spiritually speaking, they are dead. It’s not enough to know the Word, to have a title in the church, or to own a Bible. Jesus said, “Go and do likewise.”You must be a doer. Be someone who applies God’s Word in a practical way day by day.

It’s easy to read the Bible, come to church, and say ‘I love you Jesus’. But God doesn’t want your feelings alone. He wants actions. Although the Good Samaritan had feelings, he didn’t act upon them. The Bible only tells us about one of his feelings - the compassion he felt - but seven of his actions:

1. He went to the injured man
   
   
2. He bandaged his wounds
   
   
3. He poured oil and wine over him.
   (Oil symbolises the Holy Spirit and wine symbolises the covenant that you have with Jesus)
   
   
4. He sat the man on his own animal. (He used his own transport)
   
   
5. He took care of him.
   
   
6. He took money equivalent to two days wages and gave it to the innkeeper.
   
   
7. He promised to pay whatever extra costs were incurred.

Note that the Good Samaritan wasn’t a religious man. The religious ones were those who just walked past, leaving the injured man half dead!

Many people lose out on God’s blessings because they don’t care for other people; they are selfish. But the more you give, the more you receive. We are free today because someone cared enough to the point of helping us.

God doesn’t give us His Holy Spirit just so that we can speak in tongues, but so that we can become his true witnesses.

Are you ready to love God with all your heart, your might and your strength? And are you ready to love your neighbour as you love yourself? If so, then don’t live by feelings, live by faith - and show this through actions.

Your servant in Christ,
Bishop Julio Caesar
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