On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
“What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
“You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”--Luke 10:25-37
This is very familiar Scripture, you don't even have to be a church goer to know the story of "the Good Samaritan" This is probably, next to the story of Jesus, one of the most familiar stories of the Bible. We have all heard of someone referred to as a "Good Samaritan" and we all like to think that we too would get down into the ditch, as opposed to walking right by, like the religious people.
I love being in the ditch ministering to those that addiction has robbed and left half dead...it's the place that I love to be. You see "The Good Samaritan" walked by one day and rescued me from that ditch, and He told me to "go and do likewise." So that is what I do; I am a ditch dweller.
It's a very dirty job, one too dirty for even Mike Rowe (host of Dirty Jobs), but it's the most rewarding thing one can do. It can become very expensive as you apply your own oil, give of your wine, and pay out of your pocket for their needs; not to mention the time, prayer, and tears you invest. But the payday is eternal--
I am also very protective of those that are still in the ditch. I want to bring love, life, and freedom to them and I despise "Pharisee's who want to "March" by in the name of religion, condemning them because of their wounds. I will not stand by and allow religious "priests and levites" to beat the already broken people with their Bibles, and shout religious obscenities at them!
I will be an advocate for the addict, the alcoholic, the person who has been beaten and left half dead by life and circumstances. Jesus was my Advocate, and I am supposed to be Christ-like, that is after all what Christian means. Please don't judge all Christians by the Pharisees "marching and picketing" Remember the Priest and the Levite "marched" right by the man in the ditch...but Jesus (The Good Samaritan) stopped and got dirty. WE have to love people right where they're at, and it's the love of Christ that will bring healing and deliverance--
It's time to STOP all this religious nonsense and get down in the ditch...It's a dirty job, but JESUS did it why can't we?
You might be wondering why I wrote this...Recently I was in a meeting with other Christians and we were discussing the drug problem, and what we could do to combat it. (((hello, Dying to Live Ministries))) A "march" against drugs seemed to be the solution, but it quickly turned into a march against drug addicts and drug dealers. I politely stood up and said, "I won't be a part of this" and left.
You see I have seen WAY too many drug addicts and drug dealers come out of that ditch and become MIGHTY men and women of God, and they came out because we brought Jesus into the ditch and loved them as He would. Join me! Let's get in the ditch--The Pharisees can "MARCH" right on by.
Pastor Brandiilyne
Jesus in disguise Dying to Live Video--
^click on link to watch video^
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