Luke 10:30-37 Who is the good person ?
Our church has the goals for this year. One of them is 'Let us be the good persons.'. Good persons make the family (society, nation, church) happy. Today ask a question to yourselves, "Am I a good person ?" Most of the people answer positively to this question, "I am not a perfectly good person. But I think I am not evil. I am better than that person. I am trying to live a good life."
But ask a question like this, "Is he(she) a good person ?" Many people answer negatively to this question, "I don't think that he is a good man. Many were hurt by him." That is, people have the positive thinking for themselves (their husbands, their wives, their children, their family). But they have the negative thinking for others (other husbands, other wives, other children, other family).
We can see that some of the adolescent boys and girls go astray with their friends. At that time, most of the parents say, "My child did wrong because he has the bad friends." That means, "My child is good, but the others are bad !"
After Adam and Eve ate up the fruit of good and evil, the conception of good and evil between God and humans became different. Therefore when God says, 'It's good !', humans say, 'It's bad !'. That's why there is discord between God and humans. And the different thinking of good and evil causes discord and quarrel between man and wife. But if the man and wife live together for a long time, their thinking of good and evil becomes same. That's why we say, "Man and wife become alike."
If their thinking of good and evil becomes like the thinking of God, they will be blessed. But it is a big problem that their thinking of good and evil becomes different. But we thank God, for our thinking becomes like the thinking of God as we hear the words of God.
In today's scripture, Jesus says, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead." The way from Jerusalem to Jericho is a steep downhill. And there are many big rocks around the road. It is very nice place for robbers to hide themselves. It looks like the downhill from Calgary to Drumhellar where dinosaurs appeared.
Unfortunately a man was beaten by the robbers and became half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. Maybe he thought, "Oh, this is the place where robbers often appear !" And then when a Levite came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. Maybe he thought, "Oh, this man is a sinner ! Why do I need to save a sinner ?"
But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was ; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went
to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innerkeeper. "Look after him." he said, "and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have."
After Jesus told this story to an expert in the law, he said, "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers ?" The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."
Brothers and sisters, there are so many persons who fell into the hands of robbers. Few months ago, many Koreans living in Gang Won Do province fell into the cruel robber. The name of the robber is 'typhoon Lusa' who killed over 200 persons and devastated lots of buildings, bridges and roads...
Many Koreans are helping the typhoon victims. Among them a young TV star donated $ 120,000 to them. I was moved by that. Few weeks ago, Calgary Korean Association asked all of the pastors to donate for them. So some churches joined donation, and our church want to donate. Of course it is not easy for our church to donate because we support two missionaries every month, and we spend money for paying mortgage fee and for others. And as you know we do not make a lot of money in this foreign
country.
That's why we can pass by like the priest and the Levite. But if we do, our heart and conscience will be hurt. Therefore we want to help them with our best like the good Samaritan. Of course we are not rich. We sometimes lack of money. But I thought, "How thankful it is that my family did not fall into the robber 'typhoon Lusa' !" Don't you think "It is thankful that I can help them !"
Jesus says to us, "In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."(Matt 5:16) "Command then to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to shine."(1 Tim 6:18) "God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work."(2 Cor 9:8) "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to family of believers."(Gal 6:10) "I am confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."(Phil 1:6)
My beloved, God praises the good persons, and he blesses the good persons. And Jesus who is in us want to do good works through us. The kingdom of heaven is adorned by the good persons. Bible says, "Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy spirit and faith, and a great member of people were brought to the Lord."(Acts 11:24) "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good."(Acts 10:38)
And the bible says, "Hold on to a good conscience."(1 Tim 1:19) "Keep a clean conscience."(1 Peter 3:16) "Fight the good fight."(1 Tim 4:7) "Be well known for good deeds."(1 Tim 5:10) "Good understanding wins favor."(Pro 13:15)
Bible calls the hands of God the good hands (Neh2:18), and Jesus the good shepherd (John 10:14), and Holy Spirit the good Spirit (Neh 9:20). It means the good Father, good Jesus, good Holy Spirit bless the good persons. Therefore the bible says, "Those who have done good will rise to live."(John 5:29)
Brothers and sisters, in the last days, people will not be lovers of the good.(2 Tim 3:3) But our God wants us to be lovers of the good, so that we may inherit the kingdom of heaven where good people live together forever. Amen !
Who is the good person ?
날짜:
2002/10/21
설교: