The Desire of Ages--54--The Good Samaritan

[Beacon]

'Selfishness and cold formality have well-nigh extinguished the fire of love, and dispelled the graces that should make fragrant the character."

"Many who profess His name have lost sight of the fact that Christians are to represent Christ."

"Unless there is practical self-sacrifice for the good of others, in the family circle, in the neighborhood, in the church, and wherever we may be, then whatever our profession, we are not Christians."

What a short but powerful reading from this chapter!! Where do "YOU & I " Stand?? Maybe "WE" should take the time as we begin a new year to do a Personal  Introspection in our relational connection with Jesus!

======================
1
Earthly pleasures vainly call me,
  I would be like Jesus;
Nothing worldly shall enthrall me,
  I would be like Jesus.
 
Be like Jesus, this my song,
  In the home and in the throng;
Be like Jesus, all day long!
    I would be like Jesus.
2
He has broken every fetter,
  I would be like Jesus;
That my soul may serve Him better,
  I would be like Jesus.
3
All the way from earth to glory,
  I would be like Jesus;
Telling o’er and o’er the story,
  I would be like Jesus.

Lyrics:James Rowe (1866-1933)
Music:Bentley DeForest Ackley (1872-1958)

[Dorine]

  In the story of the good Samaritan, Jesus gave a picture of Himself and His mission. Man had been deceived, bruised, robbed, and ruined by Satan, and left to perish; but the Saviour had compassion on our helpless condition. He left His glory, to come to our rescue. He found us ready to die, and He undertook our case. He healed our wounds. He covered us with His robe of righteousness. He opened to us a refuge of safety, and made complete provision for us at His own charges. He died to redeem us. Pointing to His own example, He says to His followers, "These things I command you, that ye love one another." "As I have loved you, that ye also love one another." John 15:17; 13:34.

May we follow in the footsteps of Jesus. There are so many wounded and broken souls that are lost and do not know how to find their way to eternal life. Do we pass them by knowing some community service will take care of them? We have a mission of service that our Saviour has left for us to do. No matter our means and abilities we each have a responsibility to help souls in need. If it's a situation bigger than we are able to undertake we can always point them to  where help is while showing them the love and care that so many long for. Not all outcomes will be positive. Some know how to use people for their own selfish purposes and with ungrateful hearts turn it around and accuse you of not caring enough because all their expectations have not been met. (We've just been through this very scenario with a new church member that has left the church in shock). It makes me think of the 10 lepers that Jesus healed but only one came back to thank Him. We will meet those who take advantage of us but that must not harden our hearts nor stop us from moving forward in the same path that Jesus trod.

[Richard Myers]

Amen!!

   All this is but a fulfillment of the principle of the law,--the principle that is illustrated in the story of the good Samaritan, and made manifest in the life of Jesus. His character reveals the true significance of the law, and shows what is meant by loving our neighbor as ourselves. And when the children of God manifest mercy, kindness, and love toward all men, they also are witnessing to the character of the statutes of heaven. They are bearing testimony to the fact that "the law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul." Psalm 19:7. And whoever fails to manifest this love is breaking the law which he professes to revere. For the spirit we manifest toward our brethren declares what is our spirit toward God. The love of God in the heart is the only spring of love toward our neighbor. "If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?" Beloved, "if we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and His love is perfected in us." 1 John 4:20, 12.

[Pastor Sean Brizendine]

Amen, Brother Beacon, Sister Dorine, and Brother Richard!

Happy new year 2025! It is already January 2, but God is daily doing something new as we look to Him in faith!

It was a blessing to connect with family in South Carolina yesterday and also get to visit friends in North Carolina. Now Joella and I are in Georgia, about to get to Florida to see her uncle. We are grateful for the way He has led and protected us in our journeys so far before we head to Papua New Guinea. We are waiting on our visas to be processed, and once they go through we will be able to book flights and go. God's timing is perfect!

As we traveled, we listened to The Desire of Ages, chapter 54, "The Good Samaritan," and were blessed by the spiritual encouragement from the chapter. May this takeaway be a blessing for you, too!

"In the story of the good Samaritan, Christ illustrates the nature of true religion. He shows that it consists not in systems, creeds, or rites, but in the performance of loving deeds, in bringing the greatest good to others, in genuine goodness." {The Desire of Ages, page 497, paragraph 1}

And we see it right from Luke 10:25-37: "And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted Him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. And He said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour? And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, and went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise."

May we be open to God's missions of mercy--wherever they are in our life path. God loves to have us express our love to Him and others in all we say and do, revealing the power of His converting grace to make us new creatures with all of the fruits of the Spirit in our lives without one missing! Gladly we can love and obey God, being a blessing to others as He opens the way. May you have a blessed new year 2025 in which you are sensitive to the Holy Spirit's leading in your life!

[Beacon]

"When the children of God manifest mercy, kindness, and love toward all men, they also are witnessing to the character of the statutes of heaven."

"They are bearing testimony to the fact that "the law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul." Psalm 19:7." "And whoever fails to manifest this love is breaking the law which he professes to revere."

"The spirit we manifest toward our brethren declares what is our spirit toward God."

"The love of God in the heart is the only spring of love toward our neighbor. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?" Beloved, "if we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and His love is perfected in us." 1 John 4:20, 12."

Do "WE" have this type of in our hearts??

=====================
1
Tempt me not with sordid gain;
Mock me not with earth’s illusions,
  Vex me not with honors vain.
I am weaned from sinful idols;
  I am henceforth not my own;
I have giv’n my heart to Jesus,
  I belong to Him alone.
 
I am not my own,
I am not my own.
I belong to Jesus,
  And I am not my own.
2
Oh, the blessed rest it brings us
  To belong to Christ alone;
We can draw on all His fulness
  When we’ve nothing of our own.
Blessed Jesus, take me, own me,
  Make me, keep me wholly Thine.
Deign to find in me Thy portion,
  While I joy to call Thee mine.
3
Weary soul, give up the struggle,
  Cease at length thyself to own;
Give yourself away to Jesus,
  And belong to Him alone.
Once He gave His all to win thee,
  Now He asks as much of thee;
All He has He fully gives thee;
  Let thy love His portion be.

Lyrics:Albert Benjamin Simpson (1843-1919)
Music:George Coles Stebbins (1846-1945)

[Dorine]

Christ has linked His interest with that of humanity, and He asks us to become one with Him for the saving of humanity. "Freely ye have received," He says, "freely give." Matthew 10:8. Sin is the greatest of all evils, and it is ours to pity and help the sinner. There are many who err, and who feel their shame and their folly. They are hungry for words of encouragement. They look upon their mistakes and errors, until they are driven almost to desperation. These souls we are not to neglect. If we are Christians, we shall not pass by on the other side, keeping as far as possible from the very ones who most need our help. When we see human beings in distress, whether through affliction or through sin, we shall never say, This does not concern me.   

May we live so close to Christ that we will make the right decisions when God tests us. When self is dead we will trust completely in Jesus for protection when faced with difficult situations.

[Richard Myers]

Amen my brother and sister!  The commandments of God are a law of love. If we offend in one point, we offend in all. It is impossible to love our neighbor unless we love God supremely. We are evil by nature and must be vitally connected with God in order to do any good thing.  Then, if we love God we will love our neighbor, even our enemy. If we do not love our neighbor, then we do not love God with all of the heart and do not have salvation.

All this is but a fulfillment of the principle of the law,--the principle that is illustrated in the story of the good Samaritan, and made manifest in the life of Jesus. His character reveals the true significance of the law, and shows what is meant by loving our neighbor as ourselves. And when the children of God manifest mercy, kindness, and love toward all men, they also are witnessing to the character of the statutes of heaven. They are bearing testimony to the fact that "the law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul." Psalm 19:7. And whoever fails to manifest this love is breaking the law which he professes to revere. For the spirit we manifest toward our brethren declares what is our spirit toward God. The love of God in the heart is the only spring of love toward our neighbor. "If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?" Beloved, "if we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and His love is perfected in us." 1 John 4:20, 12. 

[Richard Myers]

Much of professing Christianity believe they are saved under grace not under the law. They thus believe they are saved in sin. In today's reading we read that Jesus says we are saved when we love God supremely and our neighbor as ourselves.

     In the story of the good Samaritan, Christ illustrates the nature of true religion. He shows that it consists not in systems, creeds, or rites, but in the performance of loving deeds, in bringing the greatest good to others, in genuine goodness.   
     As Christ was teaching the people, "a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted Him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" With breathless attention the large congregation awaited the answer. The priests and rabbis had thought to entangle Christ by having the lawyer ask this question. But the Saviour entered into no controversy. He required the answer from the questioner himself. "What is written in the law?" He said; "how readest thou?" The Jews still accused Jesus of lightly regarding the law given from Sinai; but He turned the question of salvation upon the keeping of God's commandments.   
     The lawyer said, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself." Jesus said, "Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live."   
     The lawyer was not satisfied with the position and works of the Pharisees. He had been studying the Scriptures with a desire to learn their real meaning. He had a vital interest in the matter, and had asked in sincerity, "What shall I do?" In his answer as to the requirements of the law, he passed by all the mass of ceremonial and ritualistic precepts. For these he claimed no value, but presented the two great principles on which hang all the law and the prophets. This answer, being commended by Christ, placed the Saviour on vantage ground with the rabbis. They could not condemn Him for sanctioning that which had been advanced by an expositor of the law.   
     "This do, and thou shalt live," Jesus said. He presented the law as a divine unity, and in this lesson taught that it is not possible to keep one precept, and break another; for the same principle runs through them all. Man's destiny will be determined by his obedience to the whole law. Supreme love to God and impartial love to man are the principles to be wrought out in the life.

When we break one of the commandments, we break them all. If we love God with the whole heart, then we will love those for whom He died. The commandments are a law of love. The first 4 reveal our duty to God and the last six our duty to man. And, this also divides the church and state. We are to have moral laws in how we deal with each other, but no legislation dealing with how we worship God. Morality is the domain of true religion. If we deny God and His laws, we then are immoral. This is what we see in the world today as the world denies our God and His commandments.

[Beacon]

The lawyer was not satisfied with the position and works of the Pharisees. He had been studying the Scriptures with a desire to learn their real meaning. He had a vital interest in the matter, and had asked in sincerity, "What shall I do?" In his answer as to the requirements of the law, he passed by all the mass of ceremonial and ritualistic precepts. For these he claimed no value, but presented the two great principles on which hang all the law and the prophets. This answer, being commended by Christ, placed the Saviour on vantage ground with the rabbis. They could not condemn Him for sanctioning that which had been advanced by an expositor of the law.   
   
 "This do, and thou shalt live," Jesus said. He presented the law as a divine unity, and in this lesson taught that it is not possible to keep one precept, and break another; for the same principle runs through them all. Man's destiny will be determined by his obedience to the whole law. Supreme love to God and impartial love to man are the principles to be wrought out in the life.

[Richard Myers]

Amen Brother Beacon!  None will be in heaven who did not obey God and reflect His character. We are saved by grace and then given power to keep the commandments of God.  The ten commandments hang on the two great commands. Love the Lord our God with all of the heart and our neighbors, even our enemies.

     Christ has linked His interest with that of humanity, and He asks us to become one with Him for the saving of humanity. "Freely ye have received," He says, "freely give." Matthew 10:8. Sin is the greatest of all evils, and it is ours to pity and help the sinner. There are many who err, and who feel their shame and their folly. They are hungry for words of encouragement. They look upon their mistakes and errors, until they are driven almost to desperation. These souls we are not to neglect. If we are Christians, we shall not pass by on the other side, keeping as far as possible from the very ones who most need our help. When we see human beings in distress, whether through affliction or through sin, we shall never say, This does not concern me.   
     "Ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness." Galatians 6:1. By faith and prayer press back the power of the enemy. Speak words of faith and courage that will be as a healing balsam to the bruised and wounded one. Many, many, have fainted and become discouraged in the great struggle of life, when one word of kindly cheer would have strengthened them to overcome. Never should we pass by one suffering soul without seeking to impart to him of the comfort wherewith we are comforted of God.   
     All this is but a fulfillment of the principle of the law,--the principle that is illustrated in the story of the good Samaritan, and made manifest in the life of Jesus. His character reveals the true significance of the law, and shows what is meant by loving our neighbor as ourselves. And when the children of God manifest mercy, kindness, and love toward all men, they also are witnessing to the character of the statutes of heaven. They are bearing testimony to the fact that "the law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul." Psalm 19:7. And whoever fails to manifest this love is breaking the law which he professes to revere. For the spirit we manifest toward our brethren declares what is our spirit toward God. The love of God in the heart is the only spring of love toward our neighbor. "If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?" Beloved, "if we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and His love is perfected in us." 1 John 4:20, 12.
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