Author: Steve Roach

The next day he handed the innkeeper 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.’

Luke 10:35 (NLT)

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Extra

 

When the Samaritan left the next morning, he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, and said, “Take care of him.” Depending on the quality of the inn, that amount would have paid for the injured man’s room and board for anywhere from three weeks to two months. This was another example of the Samaritan’s generous, compassionate love. But he still was not finished. He promised the innkeeper, “Whatever more you spend, when I return, I will repay you.” In effect, he gave him a blank check. His generosity knew no bounds.

 

When I think about what this Samaritan did (and didn’t have to do), my mind goes to Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:41. Jesus said, “If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles.” Roman law gave a soldier the right to force a civilian to carry his pack for a Roman mile, which was slightly shorter than our modern mile. The law, designed to relieve the soldier, not only caused great inconvenience to civilians but was made even more despicable by the fact that the oppressed were made to carry the equipment and weapons of their oppressors.

By helping the wounded man that day, the Samaritan would have done more than the two religious temple workers did (which was nothing). But love called for more. He chose to pay for weeks and even months of care for the wounded man. He arranged to return later, check on him, and pick up the tab for all expenses incurred. Love doesn’t do the minimum. Love goes the extra mile and does what we would want others to do for us. How far are you willing to go to love your neighbor?

 

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Steve Roach serves as the Pastor of Spiritual Maturity at NorthStar Church. He and his wife, Amy, live in Acworth and have three girls, Olivia, Sydney, and Hayley and one son, Colton.  He enjoys watching sports and spending time with his family.

34 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. 35 The next day he handed the innkeeper 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.’

Luke 10:34-35 (NLT)

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Expression

 

The good Samaritan gave up his work, time, and energy to help the man. Note what he did. Each step is significant in showing how we are to love our neighbors.

 

• He went to him and reached out personally to help.
• He soothed his wounds with oil and wine.
• He bandaged up his wounds.
• He set him on his donkey and sacrificed his comfort.
• He provided rooming at an inn so he had a place to heal.
• He cared for him for the night and ensured he was ok.
• He enlisted the help of the innkeeper to take care of the man.

 

      Showing love to one’s neighbor is putting love into action. Love is not just an idea or a feeling toward God. It involves practical acts and commitment to help anyone who needs help. What is the true expression of love? It means getting our hands dirty. It means doing for others what you want done for you. It means giving and sacrifice. It means doing whatever it takes to help someone in need. In 1 John 3:18, John writes, “Let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.”

It’s one thing to say we love our neighbor but another to express love in practice.  Let’s not love in sentiment only but in practical deeds that make a difference in the lives of others. When we do, we point a lost world to Jesus. In Matthew 5:16, Jesus said, “In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”

How will you be a light for the Lord today?

 

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Steve Roach serves as the Pastor of Spiritual Maturity at NorthStar Church. He and his wife, Amy, live in Acworth and have three girls, Olivia, Sydney, and Hayley and one son, Colton.  He enjoys watching sports and spending time with his family.

Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him.

Luke 10:33 (NLT)

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Example

 

We may read the story of the Good Samaritan and think about the cost involved in loving our neighbor, but I would argue that it is far more costly not to care. The priest and the Levite lost far more by their neglect than the Samaritan did by his concern. They lost the opportunity to become better men. They lost their opportunity for influence because they failed to be a godly example.

 

My wife and I were driving with our 8-year-old son somewhere near Atlanta. We came to the end of our exit ramp and encountered a shabby-looking man holding a “please help” sign. My first reaction was to think this man had made poor choices in life and would spend whatever money he received on alcohol. My wife’s first reaction was to say, “Hey, Steve, give him some money.” My son is just taking it all in. I rolled my window down and somewhat reluctantly pulled a $20 bill from my wallet and gave it to the man. He responds with a “God bless you.”

 

A few years later, my son was riding in the car with me, and we encountered another man asking for help. He immediately said, “Dad, let’s give him some money.” I’ve thought about that scenario a good bit. I finally concluded that what the man does with the money is not my responsibility. What’s more important to me is the example of giving that my son has seen in his (somewhat reluctant) Dad. I pray that as he grows older and sees someone in need, he doesn’t think of a reason why he shouldn’t give. Instead, I hope he thinks, “How can I help?” That’s a lesson worth far more than $20.

 

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Steve Roach serves as the Pastor of Spiritual Maturity at NorthStar Church. He and his wife, Amy, live in Acworth and have three girls, Olivia, Sydney, and Hayley and one son, Colton.  He enjoys watching sports and spending time with his family.

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 he also passed by
on the other side.

Luke 10:31-32 (NLT)

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Excuses

 

Why didn’t the priest or the Levite stop to help the man? Some have conjectured they were concerned about defilement. A Jew would become “unclean” if he came into contact with a dead body. This would render him unable to worship. The man on the road may have appeared dead, so they did not want to risk defilement if there was nothing they could do. Or they had likely been serving God at the temple all week and were anxious to get home. They had places to go and people to see. Whatever the reason, they decided to bypass an opportunity to show love to a needy neighbor.

 

In the late 90’s, I was a young believer attending college at Georgia State University in downtown Atlanta. I would ride the Marta train into the Five Points station and take a 5–10-minute walk to class. One morning, I encountered a man on the sidewalk who was asking those who walked by for money for food. I could have kept walking because I needed to get to class on time. Besides, what money did I have to spare? I was just a college student. Instead of making excuses, the Spirit tugged on my heart to stop. I asked the man to follow me to the KFC restaurant down the street. I bought his meal and presented him with the food. I don’t remember much from this encounter, but I know he was appreciative. I learned that day that when I remove excuses from my heart, there is more room for love for my neighbors. It’s easy to make excuses. It takes work to love our neighbor. Let’s stop making excuses, get our hands dirty and love the way Jesus loved us.

 

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Steve Roach serves as the Pastor of Spiritual Maturity at NorthStar Church. He and his wife, Amy, live in Acworth and have three girls, Olivia, Sydney, and Hayley and one son, Colton.  He enjoys watching sports and spending time with his family.

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 he also passed by
on the other side.

Luke 10:31-32 (NLT)

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Expectations

There are two shockers in this story. One is that the hated Samaritan cared enough to aid the hurt Jewish man on the side of the road. The second is that the Priests and Levites (Temple assistants) didn’t stop to help their countryman. Let’s focus on the latter today. A little background about these guys will help explain what I mean.

 

Priests and Levites had to have come from the tribe of Levi. The priests had to be not only Levites but also in the line of Aaron, Israel’s first high priest (Exodus 28:1–3). Priests and Levites had different jobs in and around the temple. Priests were authorized to perform the sacrifices. Levites were set apart to help the priests. They did the work of elders, servants, custodians, assistants, musicians, movers, and repairmen. Priests and Levites were supported by Israel’s tithes and by revenues from certain cities that had been given to them. Worship in the temple could not have taken place without the combined efforts of the priests and Levites. The bottom line is that they did significant work for the Lord.

 

The Old Testament law demanded that Jews do good deeds and care for those who were hurt. Jesus’ story highlights the shortcomings of the priest and the Levite because they were especially required to provide care. That they didn’t stop to help was jaw-dropping to those who heard this account.

 

As we think about those living around us who are skeptical about God, faith, and Christianity, they expect us to say one thing but live another.  God, however, expects those who carry His name to be the hands and feet of Jesus to our hurting “neighbors.” Let’s live up to God’s expectations and not those of the skeptical world around us. Let’s give them a reason to believe there is a loving God who cares about them.

 

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Steve Roach serves as the Pastor of Spiritual Maturity at NorthStar Church. He and his wife, Amy, live in Acworth and have three girls, Olivia, Sydney, and Hayley and one son, Colton.  He enjoys watching sports and spending time with his family.

Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.

James 4:17 (NLT)

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No Excuses

In the Bible, there are sins of commission where we willfully engage in behavior that we know is wrong. There are also sins of omission. We commit these sins when we know the right thing to do but don’t do it. In almost every case, we have a “perfectly good excuse” for not doing the good we should have. A car insurance company provided some excuses drivers have given for getting into accidents where it was clearly their fault:

“The other car collided with mine without warning of its intentions.”

“A pedestrian hit me and went under my car.”

“Coming home I drove into the wrong house and collided with a tree I don’t have.”

“I glanced at my mother-in-law and headed over the embankment.”

“The pedestrian had no idea which direction to run, so I ran over him.”

While these excuses are humorous, they show how prone we are to evade responsibility for our wrong actions. James tells us that, like errant drivers, Christians who do not obey the Bible are full of excuses. But no good reason exists for doing something wrong when you know what is right.

PRAY:

Lord, help me do the good that I ought when the situation and circumstance arises. Don’t let me give in to procrastination or think someone else will do it. Amen.

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Steve Roach serves as Pastor of Spiritual Growth for NorthStar Church. He lives in Acworth, Ga., with his wife, Amy, and his four children.

Otherwise you are boasting about your own pretentious plans, and all such boasting is evil.

James 4:16 (NLT)

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Pride Before the Fall

Two geese were headed south on their annual autumn migration when they were begged by a boastful frog to take him along. The geese were willing to carry him if a means of transportation could be devised. The quick-witted frog produced a long stalk of grass and told the two geese to hold one end while he clung to the middle with his mouth. The three friends were soaring along, enjoying their journey, when some men noticed them from below. The men shouted their admiration for the device and called out, “Who was clever enough to figure that out?” When the boastful frog opened his mouth to say, “It was me!” he lost his hold, fell to the earth, and met his demise.

The entire Bible is filled with Scriptures that warn against pride and promote humility. Moses taught it, the Old Testament prophets proclaimed it, the psalmists sang it, Jesus exemplified it, and the apostles preached it. Let’s approach our future with humility and dependence on the One who holds our future.

PRAY:

Lord, give me wisdom and insight into the areas of my heart that do not please You. Help me to be humble and not proud. If I boast, let it be in You and Your goodness. Amen.

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Steve Roach serves as Pastor of Spiritual Growth for NorthStar Church. He lives in Acworth, Ga., with his wife, Amy, and his four children.

What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.”

James 4:15 (NLT)

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Infuse Prayer in Your Plans

In James 4:13-17, we find that it is unwise to make plans without asking God to reveal His plan to us. Some of us are scared to pray, “Your will be done,” because we are afraid God will want us to go to Africa or some faraway place to do difficult things in harsh conditions. The problem with this fear is that it comes from a misunderstanding about the nature of God. We have a Heavenly Father who only wants to give good gifts to His children (Matthew 7:9-11).

Philippians 2:13 (NLT) says this: “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” If God wanted to send you to Africa, He would put that desire in you so strong that nothing would keep you from wanting to go.  Although we may not always know God’s specific will, we can always know His heart.

 

PRAY:

Lord, I praise You that Your plans are always good. Show me Your good and perfect will for my life and help me obey You. Amen.

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Steve Roach serves as Pastor of Spiritual Growth for NorthStar Church. He lives in Acworth, Ga., with his wife, Amy, and his four children.

 

How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.

James 4:14 (NLT)

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Make the Most of Today

It’s easy to get so preoccupied with the future that we miss the opportunities God gives us each day. Life is fleeting, and death is inevitable for all of us. Despite this, our culture is busy trying to disguise the aging process. We color our hair, inject Botox around our eyes, and look for some miracle potion that will give us a few more years. Some people even go to the extreme and freeze their bodies after they die in hopes that some future medical breakthrough will provide a cure for their particular death-causing disease and enable them to live again. But the reality is that nothing will keep any of us from the ultimate appointment already on God’s calendar.

The Bible says, “In Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them” (Psalm 139:16). If you have placed your faith and trust in Jesus Christ and have followed Him faithfully, your appointment with God can be a means of rejoicing, not fear.

PRAY:

Lord, thank you for the gift of life and for every breath that you have gifted to me. Help me make the most of every opportunity for You and your Kingdom.

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Steve Roach serves as Pastor of Spiritual Growth for NorthStar Church. He lives in Acworth, Ga., with his wife, Amy, and his four children.

Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” — James 4:13

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Spaced Out

There was a planetarium that needed money, so its director dreamed up a gimmick that preyed upon future-oriented, hopeful, yet gullible people. He printed brochures offering one-thousand-acre lots on Mars for only twenty dollars. “This land still features pink skies, unlimited rock gardens, and not one but two moons. So peaceful, quiet, and romantic—even the natives are friendly,” the literature promised. “At one-sixth the gravity of Earth, your golf game will improve immensely—drives will be six times longer. Mars will provide a world of adventure for the entire family.” The gag was surprisingly successful. People across the country sent in their money for a deed.

James reminds us that making life plans without praying and seeking God is just as foolish as buying land on Mars. I may not know what the future holds, but I know Who holds my future. Because God holds eternity in His hands, isn’t it a good idea to trust Him with all your tomorrows?

 

Father, though I don’t know the future, You do. Help me make wise decisions today to prepare me for whatever the future holds. Amen.

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Steve Roach serves as Pastor of Spiritual Growth for NorthStar Church. He lives in Acworth, Ga., with his wife, Amy, and his four children.