Unusual Priorities

Text: Luke 10:25-42 Theme: Doctoring strangers and sitting silent in the midst of work can actually be priorities for believers. Key verses: “‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’…Jesus replied, ‘Do this and you will live.’…he asked Jesus, ‘Who is my neighbor?’…Jesus said, ‘A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers…a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him.” (v. 30-34) “‘Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?’ The expert in the law replied, ‘The one who had mercy on him.’ Jesus told him, ‘Go and do likewise.'” (v. 36-37) “Mary…sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made.” (v. 39-40) “‘Martha, Martha,’…’you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better…'” (v. 41-42) What God said to me: Dwayne, life is all about getting your priorities in order and then keeping them in order. My Son demonstrated what those prioirities are to be for my people. No matter how busy you are and how much on a schedule you are, if you see someone by the side of the road (so to speak), you should prayerfully consider stopping to help them. Jesus used a Samaritan traveler to illustrate this important priority. How surprizing must it have been for those listening to his story that day. The priest and the Levite both passed right on by this hurt and bleeding soul. Where’s the compassion? Where is the application of all those laws and principles those two “men of the cloth” should have known and lived? Jesus used a little shock treatment to help them see that God honors anyone who will simply obey his word and love him and others as they should. Then, of the Martha/Mary episode: You have read and memorized this passage time and time again over the years. You know this priority of listening and sitting before speaking and doing. Yet, even this morning you entertained the thought of skipping time alone with me so you could “get on with your ministry work.” Dwayne, this can never be. No matter how many well-known personalities and Christian celebrities embrace your materials, no matter how entensively you travel and teach, there will never be anyone or anything more important than daily sitting at my feet. I am your vine. You are still just a branch. The branch will never cease to need the vine. It will never be able to draw nutrients and sustain life and growth apart from its vine. Take time to be holy. Meditate on my Word day and night. Memorize it. Live it and breath it. I am your lifeline. I am your source. What I said to God: Holy Father, precious and vital vine, I am desparate for You today. Thank You for speaking to my soul and making me whole. I praise You for Your mercy and Your grace. Help me not be so busy today that I miss those God-given opportunities to stop and help someone who’s hurting. May I never be in that big a hurry. And may I never ever be so busy doing Your ministry that I miss knowing Your heart. Thank You for this awesome day. I commit this day and this week to You!