July 13, 2019
Luke 10:25-28 … “And he said to him, ‘You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.’” vs. 28
One day, Luke writes, a man came to Jesus asking what he needed to do to inherit eternal life. It’s the kind of question that we continue to hear from time to time in our religious circles—maybe we’ve even asked it ourselves. And often, someone will offer a quick answer, “Believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, and you will be saved.” It’s a reply that seems correct, heads will nod in agreement. But it’s worth noting that when Jesus answered the question, that’s not what he said! Instead, he refers the man to the Law and asks what is required there. When he gets the answer, “Love the Lord your God and your neighbor,” he’s then quick to say, “Yup, you got it right!” His reply is instructive! Too often we get tied up in knots about proper belief when what really counts is behavior. We can mouth platitudes about Jesus until we are blue in the face, but if we aren’t loving God and neighbor we won’t even sniff what it really means to be alive either today or tomorrow. Of course, there will be debates about what it means to love God and neighbor, but there should be no doubt our actions are the very best indicator of our convictions. Pious talk is no substitute for loving deeds!
Thought for the Day: Do I have eternal life?
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