Timely Insights into God's Word from Khandielese Reyes

 BE YE MERCIFUL 

“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 though, 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.” (Luke 10:29-37)

The Lord has given this commandment: “Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful” (Luke 6:36)  This is a parable about a man who fulfilled this commandment.

In this parable we read of a certain man whom during his travel from Jerusalem to Jericho was attack by thieves, robbed of all his belongings including his clothing, beaten and left for dead.  Lying upon the road bloodied and bruised, unable to even utter a cry for help, his only hope was that someone would come along and show him some compassion by ministering to his need.  Twice from a short distance, he hears the sound of footsteps and perhaps a sense of relief came over him for surely whomever was coming, upon seeing him helpless, would stop and care for him.  But each time as the footsteps drew nearer, the sound of them suddenly began echoing from the other side of the road, passing him by until finally they could no longer be heard. 

From a distance a certain priest saw the man lying upon the road.   As he drew nearer to where the man was, he became aware that the man was bleeding, severely wounded, stripped of his clothing in need of immediate assistance. Yet, without even an inkling of compassion for this mans suffering, without hesitation or concern over his own lack of mercy towards him, he quickly and boldly crosses over to the other side of the road and passes him by refusing to even look back.

Along comes another sound of footsteps, these coming from a certain Levite.  Here would be a supposed  devout “religious” man as WAS the priest, who KNEW the commandments of the Lord and was possibly taught since youth to follow the Laws of God.  And yet, he also chose to show no mercy upon the bruised and beaten brother.  Instead, as he approached him, he looked down upon him, and as the priest reacted so did he.  He crossed over to the other side of the road and went about his way without a thought for the life lying there upon the dirt road.

Finally there comes the sound of yet another pair of footsteps, these belonging to a certain “Samaritan” who was considered by the “religious folk” as being “unclean”, “a sinner”, and “apart from God” and yet this “Samaritan” was the ONLY one who truly demonstrated the compassion and mercy of God by caring for his brother who was in such need.  Rather than cross to the other side of the road as the priest and Levite, he instead raced to the aide of this brother, instantly cleaning out and covering his wounds.   After cleaning and binding up the mans wounds, the Samaritan could have stopped there and went on his way but instead, compassion for the man drove his aiding him a step further where he then took the man, placed him upon his animal and brought him to a place of dwelling spending the evening taking care of him.  The next day he took his own money and paid the innkeeper to further house and take care of the man until he was well.  This Samaritan fulfilled the Lord’s command: BE YE MERCIFUL.  

All three men were given opportunity to display the love and kindness of the Lord, yet only ONE actually did.  Each one of us represents the behavior of one of the above men.  Some represent the “priest” that upon seeing a brother or sister in need, choose to cross to the other side and ignore the need.  Out of sight, out of mind is their motto.  As long as they don’t see the need, their hearts cannot be convicted to assist. And for some, they believe it is that persons problem and not there’s, thus let them seek help elsewhere. Many prefer to leave the aiding of another up to someone else, they’d rather not get involved, even when The Lord has provided such a person with the necessary means to help someone else in need.  Despite the excuses given, there is NO valid reason for not administering help to one who is in need especially when the Lord has equipped you to do so.  Like this man who was so weak that he could not utter a cry for help, there are many within the body of Christ in like manner.  Weak, tired and broken and the only words they could possibly utters is: Lord, have mercy!   And the Lord then says to you, Minister to their need. But you, like the priest choose to cross to the other side and continue on your way.   

Then there are those who represent the “Levite”.  Curiosity brings you to the man in need where all you can do is look down upon him and wrestle with the conviction to help.  You’re curious as to what happened, how did he become as he is, but curiosity does NOT take the place of compassion, thus like the priest you also choose to cross to the other side and continue on your way.  You enjoy knowing all the details of one’s suffering, yet lack mercy and compassion to assist and aide them.

These two representations (Levite and Priest) are found weekly in the house of worship preaching, teaching and declaring the word of God.  One would think these two who PROFESS to know the word, would all the more LIVE by The Word and demonstrate it through every available opportunity.   Yet, they consume themselves with man made ideas and traditions, claiming to know the letter of the law, and SADLY lacking the HEART OF THE LAW…MERCY!  These very ones who LACK mercy, DESIRE the mercy of The Lord, who LACK compassion, DESIRE the compassion of The Lord.  How can this be?   How is it that you desire the Lord to be merciful unto YOU, while you refuse to be merciful unto another?  The way to OBTAIN mercy is to BE merciful as The Lord declared in His word: “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.”  (Matt 5:7)  If you chose to cross to the other side and pass the one in need believing your actions are justified, would you then think the Lord’s actions would be justified if he suddenly choose to cross to the other side and pass YOU knowing YOUR NEED?   If knowing he had the means to help you and yet chose to overlook you, how would that make you feel?   Now, consider when you overlook your brother, how do you think it makes him feel?

Now, those who represent the “Samaritan” are far and few, although I pray with all my heart that more would rise up.  For very few would place someone else need above their own.  The “Samaritan” was obviously on his way somewhere, and yet he considered not his need,  but stopped along the roadside to help someone else.  Very few would STOP even to minister a kind word to one who’s troubled; to point one in the right direction (spiritually) who’ve lost his way;  to give food to one who’s hungry and drink to one who’s thirsty; to pray for one who’s sick; to visit one who’s shut-in; to minister words of hope for one who feels hopeless; to give to the poor; to declare the Good News of Jesus Christ our Lord to one who’ve never heard…. No, not many would be as the “Samaritan” and Stop and care for another man/woman’s need.  We live in a “ME” society EVEN within the church where everything revolves around self and it is shown through our actions towards one another.  DAILY we are given opportunity to demonstrate the LOVE of Y’shua towards one another. DAILY he will place someone, or something in our path that would require an act of compassion and mercy, yet sometimes it’s so subtle that we overlook it, and it’s overlooked because the focus remains on SELF.  These opportunities would NEVER go unnoticed if we were looking MORE towards being a blessing, and LESS towards being blessed.  What was on the heart of the Samaritan was obviously to be a blessing to the one in need.  He wasn’t seeking something in return, wasn’t expecting the praise of man, but truly had the heart of Our Lord and displayed the heart of Y’shua through his act of Mercy and Compassion.  Let us ALL seek to do the same.  “BE YE MERCIFUL” one towards another.

I Love you all so very much.  Have a blessed week in the Lord and remember:  Whatever we do, do ALL for the GLORY of GOD, who ALONE is worthy of the GLORY and the PRAISE!

The Lord be with you this day and always!  Shalom Uvracha (Peace and Blessings)

Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh,
Adonai Elohim Tzeva-ot
Asher Hayah Va-ho-veh VaY’vo

Holy, Holy, Holy
Lord God Almighty
Who was and is and is to come!

May the peace of the Lord be with you today and always……

Khandielese
Daughter & Servant
   of the Lord God