Clean Mops Cause Dirty Water

I think what surprised me when I started reading back thru the Bible was how much I actually remembered. Not just from the amount that I had read through, but from preaching that I had sat through as a child, half-listening, or maybe a movie that I watched offering some explanations about Bible stories. Coming across passages that would sound familiar, then gaining the context from the saying and understanding how it was relevant had me gleaming when it started to become more familiar. So, in hopes of encouraging you to gain confidence in reviewing Scripture, I would like to share some with you!

"A Good Samaritan"

Some version of this has been stated to me several times, maybe through school or the military, but I did not know that Samaritan people existed in history. I thought it was just a figure of speech, not a city with citizens. Reading up to this and realizing that for the first time was humbling. Reading the teaching was enlightening:

30And 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. 31And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. 33But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, 34and 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. 35And 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. 36Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbor unto him that fell among the thieves? 37And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise. Luke 10:30-37 KJV

Important to note here, the Samaritan people are enemies of the Jerusalem citizens. For Jesus to use those citizens from Samaria as the 'good guy' was a big deal, but to then say they should exemplify themselves as the Samaritan was taking it a step even further. Though we create gaps between ourselves and others, Jesus continued to show us throughout the Bible that our judgements and stipulations did not matter. While we create expectations within our mind, God continues to enlighten us as we evolve thru His grace and mercy.

While I still place expectations of how I think things will work out, challenged or not, I hope to continue to remind myself that Jesus has the outcome. Though I do not often know how my struggle will be used in the future for a benefit, for me or someone else, I try to humbly remember that it becomes an opportunity for God to use it as a testimony encouraging others. So, even while I may be going through a future testimony, I remember to rejoice in the victory that has been promised already. I remember back through the trials that I have already overcome, with God leading my family. With this victory known, let's try to be the good Samaritan.

"The Golden Rule" or "Turn the Other Cheek"

Maybe you know a version of it similar to "do unto others as ye would like done to yourself", or "treat others as you would like to be treated", or maybe the evolved "treat others as they want to be treated". Either way, the origination probably started here (more specifically, verse 31):

27But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, 28bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. 29And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also. 30Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. 31And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. 32For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. 33And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. 34And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. 35But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. 36Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. 37Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: 38give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. Luke 6:27-38 KJV

Though these two (2) examples might not be the only references we have that we essentially learned from the Bible, it is important to know where the knowledge came from. While we continue to learn as a society and grow our morals to be more accepting, I hope to encourage others to go back to the source who started it first. Although we find ourselves wanting to be loved just as we are, the world never will. The reason it will not is because that love comes only from God.

As much as we try to artificially create simulations of it, the true source of that unconditional, sacrificial-beyond-measure love is only found from the source that creates it. I pray that you seek for it - knock, to be found. Let's wring out the mop.

7Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Matthew 7:7-8 KJV

My prayer to share with you this week, in hopes of encouraging you to join my reading:

"Heavenly Father, I thank you for allowing us another sharing of Your word. Thank you for allowing the teachings of Jesus to still be available today, ringing true so far into the future. Thank you for ensuring that Your word echos through the timeline of humankind, giving us a guide to gain a closer relationship with you, but also to be better to others as well. Lord, I ask that you reach out to the spirits of the world seeking you, allowing them to know your presence, unlocking that one-of-a-kind joy! Thru Jesus' name I pray these words. Amen."