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Viewpoint from Roger Hill for 12th July 2013
Roger Hill
Member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church
Burnt Lane, Gorleston
A TRUE FRIEND
The editor of a magazine offered a prize for the best definition of “a Friend.” One person said “A friend is one who mul tiplies joys and divides grief.” Another said “A friend is one who understands our silence.” Another said “A friend is a volume of sympathy bound in cloth.” The winner said “A friend - the one who comes in when the whole world goes out.” A true friend is a treasure whose worth is beyond compare. We should reach out in friendship to people where they are and minister to their needs. Reaching out to others is a privilege and responsibility as well as a spiritual gift. However there is one true friend who is more important than anyone else in our lives – that is the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus in the parable of the Good Samaritan Luke 10 v 25 - 37 shows us how Christians should behave. Especially how we should treat our enemies and those who dislike us! The Good Samaritan did not withhold his help and assistance because the victim was an enemy, or because he was considered by the victim to be inferior, with no chance of salvation. The Pharisees would often spit on the ground when a Samaritan walked by, and called them dogs. Even the wounded man’s own countrymen walked by without offering assistance! What motivated this social outcast to help someone who despised and reviled him? I would suggest two things. Need and compassion! Question - is the parable just about physical wounds and need, or does it refer to the spiritual realm also? Could it be that Jesus was talking of himself when he spoke about the Good Samaritan? Jesus was despised and r ejected by His own countrymen. Can any good thing come out of Nazareth they said? Also in Psalm 147 verse 3 the psalmist talking of the saviour says, “He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds”
Jesus wants to heal not just our physical wounds but the sickness of sin in our lives also. Perhaps we represent the Innkeeper in this parable commissioned by the Good Samaritan to look after the wounded and needy in this world until he returns the second time. What is more important to us the praise of men or the praise of God? God knows the true motives that drive us in our relationship with Him and other people. Do we consult the Holy Spirit for direction, and wisdom? If someone in our church falls into sin do we broadcast it far and wide within the church community and perform a character assassination. We cannot condone sin but how we deal with these situations can say a lot about our relationship with God. Are we a Good Samaritan, binding up the wounds or are we Pharisees walking by on the other side. I am convinced that God is more interested in restitution than retribution and that Jesus Christ is a true friend above all others but the question is---- how well do we know Him, and are we like Him?
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MikeJ (Guest) |
15/07/2013 13:41 |
As He is so are we!
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