03 Loving the Unlovely & Inconvenient

River Church Sermons

True Stories

Pt. 3 – Loving the Unlovely & Inconvenient

By Louie Marsh, 8-25-2024

(2 Sam 15.23–16.14) chronicles the story of David and his followers who escaped Jerusalem along this route after David’s son Absalom had declared himself king. King Zedekiah of Judah used the road when he tried to escape the advancing Chaldeans in 586/587 B.C.

Josephus tells us that the Tenth Roman Legion used this Jericho‑Jerusalem road on their way to besiege Jerusalem in A.D. 69.

When Mark Twain traveled along the Jericho Road during his 1867 pilgrimage, his party employed "two gorgeous young Arab sheikhs" armed with cargoes of swords, guns, pistols and daggers to protect them from imaginary Beduin marauders. Mark Twain states that during his entire pilgrimage, he had no more need for the "guards" than he had for patent leather boots or white kid gloves

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1) I need to PAY ATTENTION to what I’m saying.

25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Luke 10:25 (ESV)

· Pray that God will help me COMMUNATE clearly.

“19and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel,” (Ephesians 6:19, ESV)

2) Rationalizing moral/spiritual failure is a function of my EGO.

26 He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27 And he answered, “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.” 28 And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.” 29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Luke 10:26-29 (ESV)

3) Regardless of my status in life, God wants to USE ME.

30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. Luke 10:30-33 (ESV)

· There are opportunities all around me if I have eyes to SEE.

“18having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,” (Ephesians 1:18, ESV)

4) Christian compassion equals ACTION.

34 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. 35 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.’ Luke 10:34-35 (ESV)

· What I do is determined by what PEOPLE NEED.

15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. James 2:15-17 (ESV)

5) My neighbor is whoever GOD puts in my path.

36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.” Luke 10:36-37 (ESV)