Legitimate Questions
And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? Luke 10:25
Read Psalm 139:14-24
Sometimes we are confronted with a question for which we have no answer. What do we do in those situations? Do you, perhaps, keep this to yourself or do you share it with someone else? Maybe you go to your parents, a friend, a teacher or your minister, especially when it concerns matters of faith. Or perhaps you don’t dare do so.
The lawyer in the parable before us does not have any problem doing this. Unhesitatingly, he goes to the Lord Jesus. However, he does not go to the Lord because he has an important question to ask, but merely to test Him. He’s not looking for an answer, but hopes to ensnare the Lord; he is trying to discredit Him by catching Him in His own words.
Very remarkably, the Lord Jesus speaks about an un-savoury foreigner, a Samaritan. The Jewish lawyer had no personal knowledge of this Samaritan; he had no reason to look down upon this man. The lawyer’s problem was that he had a very unloving and un-biblical attitude towards the Lord and his neighbours.
Do you think God regards you more favourably than foreigners in your country because of your nationality? If that is true, then what lived in the lawyer’s heart also lives in yours, namely, hatred towards God and your fellowman. When you are uncovered to the sinfulness of your own heart you will no longer have any reason to look down on others. You will realize you are evil, born in sin. You need to ask the Lord to renew your heart. If you do this in sincerity, He promises to give you a gracious answer. Plead with the Lord according to His own Word. Go to Him today!
Thought: How do you view those from other nations?
Psalter 384:1,2 (based on Psalm 139) O Lord, my inmost heart and thought Thy searching eye doth see; Wherever I rest, wherever I go, My ways are known to Thee. Each spoken word, each silent thought, Thou, Lord, dost understand; Before me and behind art Thou, Restraining by Thy hand.