Busy, busy, busy; we are all so busy. Today, we have to go here and we have to do that and you mustn’t forget that other thing too, you were supposed to do last week. This could be said of any of us. We have our jobs, our households, children, grandchildren, elderly parents, a sick friend or relative that we need to care for. All of this is expected of us and we are responsible for; but we need to remember that God can interrupt us at any time.
Can you be interrupted?
I have now read or heard the Good Samaritan story 3 times this week. And today, after my morning prayer, God gave me two revelations.
The first is, Can I interrupt you on your way, to do my business, which is “loving your neighbor”. In the story we assume the priest and the Levite didn’t care or didn’t want to get involved. But, maybe they didn’t stop because they were on a very important mission or had to be somewhere at an appointed time and couldn’t be slowed. We know that they were most definitely “on their way to do something” because they were traveling on a road. However, they didn’t stop. They weren’t interruptible. They were as Martin Bauber explained it (from our bible study reading) treating the man as an “It”. He was in their way and interrupting their plans or mission. The priest and the Levite did not treat the man as a “Thou” (Buber defines as, when we recognize each person as a separate human being and treat them with dignity and respect).
Do you treat people as “It” or “Thou”?
My answer to this question is unfortunately, more ‘It” than “Thou” because I am so busy and I’m sure I don’t let God interrupt me enough (I stress I choose because if God really wanted your attention He can Interrupt you!) We have to make a conscience choice as Christians to ask God to interrupt us. When we pray in the morning, we should ask God to reveal to us throughout our day “Who does he want us to help”. This doesn’t mean you are necessarily bending over backwards or going way out of your way to help someone. It could be as simple as opening the door for someone, saying “Hello and smiling”, letting someone go before you inline at the market or just giving a word of encouragement.
So, He is telling me to ask and seek throughout my day.
And, the second thing he revealed to me was why the scripture uses the words oil and wine:
Luke 10:33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
Luke 10:34 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.
When I read that verse the first time I thought about it only in terms of my physical mind, not my using my spirit man/mind. I wondered how oil and wine would heal or treat a wound, but today the Holy Sprit revealed to me why the Samaritan poured IN oil and wine.
The word oil when used in the scriptures usually refers to anointing, a source of light or the Holy Spirit:
Psalms 104:13 He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works.
Psalms 104:14 He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth;
Psalms 104:15 And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart.
His Holy Spirit radiates through our flesh when we are filled; we shine brightly! The oil poured in was the Holy Spirit manifesting his-self in the Samaritan. The Holy Spirit working in the Samaritan displayed compassion for the man. He loved on the wounded man; he was treated as a “Thou” and not “It”.
And the word wine usually makes reference to the blood that was spilled from our Savior Jesus Christ:
Matthew 26:26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.
Matthew 26:27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;
Matthew 26:28 For this is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
Matthew 26:29 But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.
The wine, the blood of Jesus, which is life, was poured into the man. Because the Samaritan first knew Jesus, he had the wine form the vineyard to pour into the wounded man. Psalms 104: 15 states the wine makes the heart of man Glad; we can rejoice in knowing that He loves us and His blood redeems us! It also alludes to us being Glad, happy or merry, to share the good news of our Lord and Savior.
So, we all know that this is a parable that Jesus was speaking to a lawyer that inquired about inheriting eternal life. This parable spoken to that man in, that time was formidable; but in the context of today I believe he is saying simply, I have filled you with my Holy Spirit so that you may may practice pouring into “Thou” and please let me interrupt YOU; so that, you may do so!
That's what I got this morning and I hope it resonates with someone.
Posted by Letitia_Dea on Fri 1 Apr 2011 2:16:52 pm | no comments
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