Faithfully | Matthew 5:43-45, Luke 10:25-37

When I was a kid, I dreaded the pink medicine, the bottle of amoxicillin in my fridge. But my mom gave me the medicine because she knew it would make me feel better. Jesus has a prescription for you and I, and he prescribes it because he knows it’s going to make us feel better.

Sometimes when you’re hurt, that stuff gets stuffed down in your heart and you have to let it out. You have to release it, and it can be a process. I want to reiterate that. I want to encourage you today, to fill that prescription, the one that says, love your enemies. You’re going to feel so much better. You know, all that love that Jesus gives us, it’s so extravagant. He lavishes us with his love. Surely we can share some love with those who don’t deserve it. We could never deserve God’s love. We can’t earn it. He gives it to us freely. So, what do you say? You and I dig deep and love others. Love our enemies. Love those who hurt us. Remember, he’s always willing to help by the power of the Holy Spirit. You’re never having to do anything like that on your own. The Bible says, the Holy Spirit is our Helper.

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Transcription:

When I was a kid, I dreaded the pink medicine, the bottle of amoxicillin in my fridge. But my mom gave me the medicine because she knew it would make me feel better. I’m Erica, and today on the Bible for Busy People, Jesus has a prescription for you and I, and he prescribes it because he knows it’s going to make us feel better. So, in just a few minutes, you and I will sit down like we’re in the pharmacy drive-through, and read Jesus’ prescription. But first we have another stop to make as we continue to look at how loved we are. Every story in the Bible is another stop on our journey, and we’re finding out that God loves us big. He is love, and he doesn’t hold it back and he doesn’t want us to hold it back. So, join me today. We’re actually stopping on the side of the road in Luke chapter 10, beginning in verse 25,

One day, an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question, Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life? Jesus replied, what does the law of Moses say? How do you read it? The man answered, you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind. And love your neighbor as yourself. Right, Jesus told him, do this and you will live. The man wanted to justify his actions. So he asked Jesus, and who is my neighbor? Jesus replied with a story.

 I love that Jesus was a storyteller.

A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up and left him half dead beside the road. By chance, a priest came along, but when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. A temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but also passed by on the other side. Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him.

Remember, the Samaritans and the Jews were enemies.

Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn where he took care of him.

You want to talk about the extra mile, right?

The next day, he handed the Inkeeper two silver coins, telling him, take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.

Another incredible love story that Jesus told. You can’t beat it. Now, at this point, I like to picture Jesus leaning back and taking a moment to really look at this expert in religious law in the eye. Remember moments ago, he is the one who asked Jesus the question, “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?” And now Jesus is done with his story and he turns back to the expert in religious law and says in verse 36,

Now, which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits? Jesus asked. The man replied the one who showed him mercy. Then Jesus said, yes. Now go and do the same.

That man’s life had to have changed forever. We don’t know if he was a person who had hatred in his heart for his enemies, the Samaritans. We don’t know what his story was, but I really hope that I bump into this man in heaven one day, because I want to know how this story changed his life. Now, as promised a prescription from the Lord himself, I want to give it to you because I need it too. All right? We’re going to go to Matthew chapter five, beginning in verse 43.

Jesus said, you have heard the law that says, love your neighbor and hate your enemy, but I say, love your enemies. Pray for those who persecute you. In that way, you’ll be acting as true children of your father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.

Now, if that were a prescription on paper, perhaps it might be tear stained in your hands. That is tough. It’s a tough prescription, but it will heal you. In church this past Sunday during communion, I felt moved to forgive someone again. Sometimes forgiveness is a process, but I realized as I was sitting there in church, examining my heart, holding the little cup of wine that represents the blood that Jesus shed for me, and holding that little piece of bread, that little white circle that represents the body of Jesus that was broken for me, I realized that I did have unforgiveness in my heart. Maybe a little bit of bitterness mixed in, and yes, even a little bit of hatred.

Sometimes when you’re hurt, that stuff gets stuffed down in your heart and you have to let it out. You have to release it, and it can be a process. I want to reiterate that. But once again, I forgave this person and I did some business in church, and it felt so good. So, I want to encourage you today, to fill that prescription, the one that says, love your enemies. You’re going to feel so much better. You know, all that love that Jesus gives us, it’s so extravagant. He lavishes us with his love. Surely, surely we can share some love with those who don’t deserve it. We could never deserve God’s love. We can’t earn it. He gives it to us freely. So, what do you say? You and I dig deep and love others. Love our enemies. Love those who hurt us. Remember, he’s always willing to help by the power of the Holy Spirit. You’re never having to do anything like that on your own. The Bible says, the Holy Spirit is our Helper. Thank God. Until next time, remember, you are loved.

Thank you so much for listening to the Bible for Busy People. If you need prayer or you’re ready to go a little deeper in your faith, we’ve posted some resources for you in our show notes. We’d love for you to share this podcast with a friend and leave us a review. It helps us reach even more people with the hope of Jesus. This podcast is part of Purposely, a podcast network designed with practical podcasts to help you find and live in God’s purpose for your life.

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