by Jeremy Carnes
Luke 10:25-37

This chapter is mainly about the parable of the Good Samaritan that Jesus masterly crafts to a teacher of the law. This exchange between Jesus and the priest starts with the question “What must be done to gain eternal life?” Jesus asks “What is written in the Law?” and the priest quotes Deuteronomy 6:4-5 and he also adds Leviticus 19:18; these verses speak about Loving God above everything and loving your neighbor as yourself. This quickly allows this exchange to become about another question “Who is your neighbor? Whom are we obligated to love?” This awakens a blog of my own from the past:

Jesus is keeping me awake tonight. Why? I am still not sure, maybe just so that I can post on this and change someones life through my words. Maybe no one will read this, and I am completely fine with that, I write for God. I Love You All still though.

So, I am listening to this song by This Providence, an amazing band. The song is called “The Road To Jericho Is Lined With Starving People,” and just for my purpose I am going to post the lyrics and a video from youtube.

[youtube lo84HB12irw The Road To Jericho Is Lined With Starving People]

(Sorry for the bad sound…..)

There’s a man on the side of the road.
Left for dead.
People passing by turn their head.
There’s a man on the side of the road to Jericho.
Needs a friend.
Oh we all could use a little more loving.
Couldn’t we?
So c’mon love.
Give your love away with me.

Hold nothing back.
Like you’ve nothing to lose.
Love with all you have.
Like you don’t have a clue what it’s costing you.

There’s a man on his way to a church.
Avoids the eyes of a dying soul.
He just turns his head.
There’s a child on the side of the road to Jericho.
Needs a friend.
Oh we all could do a little more loving.
Wouldn’t you agree?
So c’mon love.
Give your love away with me.

Hold nothing back.
Like you’ve nothing to lose
Love with all you have.
Like you don’t have a clue what it’s costing you.

If loving were easy it wouldn’t be love.
Oh will you give your love away?
If loving were easy it wouldn’t be love.
I’m gonna give away love.
Will you give your love away?

Life is exactly like this. Too many times have I met people who claim to be Christian, but you would not be able to tell by actions alone. They go through day to day life without sharing their faith, their beliefs, or the Love and Mercy that they have been shown to them. I heard a pastor say it amazingly this evening, he said “If people (non-Christians) don’t think there is anything wrong with us, then there is something wrong with us.” We should be happy, proud, and ready to let people know that there is something different in our lives, and that they can have it too. Jesus loves without prejudice against anything, without hate, without self-concern, without worry, without ceasing, without bounds. He wants to take each of his children in his arms and know that they are going to rely on him for everything. After all, he is the only one who can take on anything. It is only through him that they world and Satan has been and will be defeated.

This is the meat of Chapter four: Stories about Compassion. Love with all your might, and without worrying about what other people are going to think about your love. The only person that will really remember it is God, and he is the only one that will ever truly matter.

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About the author: 

I (Jeremy Carnes) am a Sophomore at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. I am a worship leader for my campus ministry and I Love Jesus more than anything and I will do whatever I can to serve him. Facebook: Jeremy M. Carnes; Twitter: jmcarnes; Blog: www.lastingmusic.blogspot.com