PRAY FOR RACIAL RECONCILIATION

Kids in Alabama during a clothes delivery after a tornado

Here we are at the end of 2014 and the news is covered with racism-related stories. Skin color is not what decides if a person is "good" or "bad". Character or lack of character determine whether a person is good or bad. People of any skin can have integrity and be seen as a "good" person and people of any skin color can have a lack of integrity and be seen as "bad" people.

Filipino children from our last mission trip

In Luke 10:25 and following, we find a lawyer who tried to test Jesus by asking Him “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” and Jesus answered "What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” The lawyer had a great answer, "You shall 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 your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus told him that he had answered correctly and then He said "do this, and you will live.” But then what happens?

Not satisfied with the discussion, the lawyer tries to justify himself and asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus began telling him a story about a man who was traveling and got robbed along the way. Not only was he robbed, but he was beaten up and left half dead. Then Jesus describes three people who walk by and see the man who was beaten up. The first man was a priest but instead of helping the man who was hurt, the priest walked to the side of the road. The second man was a Levite and if you were hearing this story told by Jesus, you would probably have thought, "The priest didn't help him but surely the Levite will." But he didn't. When he saw the injured man, he also passed on the other side of the road.

Then comes the third man... a Samaritan. The Jews didn't like the Samaritans. The Jews didn't talk to the Samaritans because they were considered "half-breeds". If you were hearing Jesus tell this story, when you heard the word "Samaritan", you would probably have thought, "There is no way that the Samaritan would do the right thing and help him." But this is what Jesus said, "But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back."

Then came the moment of truth. Jesus asked the lawyer in Luke 10:36 (ESV)  Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” Jesus did ask him, "Which of these three men did a nice thing for the man who was hurt?" He asked "Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?”

The lawyer had no choice but answer, "The one who showed him mercy.” That lawyer had asked "who is my neighbor?" and now he had his answer. The Samaritan had done the right thing in spite of an racial pressure that was common between the Jews and the Samaritans. Then Jesus finished the conversation by saying "You go, and do likewise.” 

So let me close this post with a verse from the apostle Paul's writing, Romans 10:12 (ESV)  For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. and a few words from a song that kids have sung for years, 

Jesus loves the little children
All the children of the world
Red and yellow
Black and white
They are precious in His sight.
Jesus loves the little children of the world.