Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1945-10-04

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"What shall l do?" The question
Of the lawyer in our lesson is a
query which is on the lips or in the
minds of millions of men and wom-
en- each day They want to do right
and want to be right, but their
lives lack the direction which only
faith in God can give them.
Never does the question 60 more
deeply than when it concerns mans
eternal welfare. as it does in our
lesson. Always that question in
dictates that man is not able to de-
eide for himself, and needs the guild
ance of someone greater and wiser
than he. This should lead us back
to God, for only He can fully answer
it.
The story of the Good Samaritan
tell us what we must do to show our
love for God and man, and gives a
demonstration of how it is to be
done.
I. What to Do wv. 1929.
The lawyer "a student of the law
of Moses, and hence theologian
rather than an attorney was pos
ing a question to try to entrap Jesus.
He was apparently not much con-
cerned about eternal life and as
summed that it could be obtained by
doing something.
We know that eternal life is gift
John 1:12; Rom. 6:23), but If the
man wanted to have it by doing,
Jesus was ready to meet him. In
response to Jesus question ". 26)
the lawyer gave Him what the Jews
regarded as the summary Of the
whole law.
The man who can perfectly keep
that law will have eternal life, de-
clares Jesus. But note that you must
do it, not just talk about it. And
you must keep the whole law. for
whosoever shall keep the whole law,
and yet stumble in one point, he is
become guilty of ALL James 2:l0,
nv; see also Gal. 3:10.
Observe that the commandment,
so highly commended by our Lord,
concerns a true love for God which
shows in an active love for ones
fellowman.
Love is the only thing that can
save our bruised and bleeding
world. How sad it is that in such
an hour of need there is so little
said in the church about love and
it is practiced even less. It is the
forgotten fundamental of all the
fundamentals of faith! Let us begin
to preach it and practice It'll
III. How to Do 1t wv. 29-3D.
1t is one thing to realize that one
ought to do a thing; it is quite an.
other thing to do it. Here we have
what may have been an actual Incl.
dent given by our Lord as an object
lesson of the right and the wrong
attitude toward a fellowman in
need.
/, The Wrong Attitude (vv. 29-32)
The lawyers effort to justify him,
self by diverting attention to the
word "neighbor." which he fell
needed definition, showed that he
could not do the thing expected Of
him.
The reason for mans failure lies
primarily in his own weakness
and inability to do what God re
quires, but is also revealed in his
pitiable and futile efforts to justify
himself.
The one who seeing his sinfulness
and his utter inability to keep God
law casts himself on the Lord il
ready to receive the gift Of eterna
life. But the one who tries to defend
his position and justify himself ha.
shut the door on Gods grace anc
mercy (see Luke 18:9-lA.
The parable of the Good Samar
itan answers fully and finally the
question, who is my neighbour
by making it clear that anyone
who is in need. regardless of race
social position. condition or re
ligion, is our neighbor.
The priest and the Levite doubt
less had plenty of excuses for no
helping the wounded man, but let u!
remember that excuses, while the,
may count with men, mean only oui
condemnation in the presence o
God.
2. The Right Spirit.
II was the spirit of Christ tina
made the Samaritan show a com
passionate and sacrificial interest il
the needy man. Only Christ car
make you and me like that. Hi.
love in the heart is the only "gooc
neighbor program that viii eve
work.
Statesmen, philosophers yes
and the man in the street Of our
day are looking hither and yor
for an answer to the worlds need
They all sense that we must hav,
something great. and tender, anC
powerful to unite the hearts Of men
or we shall soon be in conflic
again. The next time we may wei
write civilization off the globe. VIVA
is the answer? Love! First. a rea
love for God, then love for oul
fellowmen Of all nations. The answer
to the worlds awful problem is q;
revival of Christian faith; withou
it we perish.