Improving Your Serve Why Your Serve Matters

“Teacher, what is the most important commandment in the Law?” ³⁷ Jesus answered: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. ³⁸ This is the first and most important commandment. ³⁹ The second most important commandment is like this one. And it is, “Love others as much as you love yourself.” Matthew 22:36-39 (CEV)

One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking Him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”  ²⁶ Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?” ²⁷ The man answered, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” ²⁸“Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!” Luke 10:25-28 (NLT)

three THOUGHT PROVOKING truths from these texts

3. LOVING GOD & OTHERS IS OF SUPREME IMPORTANCE.
4. lOVING GOD & OTHERS HAS ETERNAL IMPLICATIONS.
5. LOVING GOD & OTHERS demands SERVICE TO PEOPLE.

 Loving god & others is HINDERED BY HIDDEN SIN.

The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”  ³⁰ Jesus replied with a story… Luke 10:29-30a (NLT)

NOTE: Becoming like CHRIST > than justifying MYSELF.

Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. ² There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. ³ What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs. ⁴ “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. ⁵ But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. Luke 12:1-5 (NIV)

the good samaritan can help me “improve my serve” IF I…

S EE THE OPPORTUNITIES.

“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. ³² A Temple assistant[a] walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side. ³³ “Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. Luke 10:31-33a (NLT)

Don’t you have a saying? You say, ‘It’s still four months until harvest time.’ But I tell you, open your eyes! Look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest right now. John 4:35 (NIRV)

E NGAGE MY HEART.

Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him.  Luke 10:33b (NLT)

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Matthew 9:36 (NIV)

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion…  Colossians 3:12a (NIV)

R EARRANGE MY PRIORITIES.

He treated his wounds with olive oil and wine[j] and bandaged them. Then he put him on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. Luke 10:34 (CEV)

Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand. Philippians 2:4 (MSG)

V ALIDATE MY FAITH.

“Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked. ³⁷ The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.” Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.” Luke 10:36-37 (NLT)

My children, our love should not be only words and talk. No, our love must be real. We must show our love by the things we do. ^19-20 That’s how we know we belong to the way of truth. And when our hearts make us feel guilty, we can still have peace before God, because God is greater than our hearts. He knows everything.  1 John 3:18-20a (ERV)

Faith that doesn’t lead us to do good deeds is all alone and dead! ¹⁸ Suppose someone disagrees and says, “It is possible to have faith without doing kind deeds. ”I would answer, “Prove that you have faith without doing kind deeds, and I will prove that I have faith by doing them.” James 2:17-18 (CEV)

E NLIST THE HELP OF OTHERS.

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 10:34b-35 (NLT)