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Lent 2015 Day One
Grow into an
Emotionally Mature Believer
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Jeff Lampl
Lent 2015 Day One
Grow into an
Emotionally Mature Believer
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Jeff Lampl
Silence,
Stillness, and Centering before God (2 minutes)
Scripture
Reading: Luke 10:30–37
In
reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he
was attacked by robbers. They
stripped him
of his clothes,
beat him
and went
away, leaving
him 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. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and
saw him, passed by on the other side. 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, brought him to an inn and
took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I
return, I will reimburse you for any
extra expense you may have.’
“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.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
Devotional
The
great Jewish theologian Martin Buber described the most healthy or
mature relationship possible between two human beings as an
“I-Thou” relationship. In such a relationship, I recognize that I am made in the image of God,
and so is every other person. This
makes them a “thou” to me. They have dignity and worth, and are to
be treated with respect. I affirm them as being a unique and separate
human being apart from me.
In
most of our human relationships, however, we treat people as objects––as
an “it”. In an
“I-It” relationship, I treat you as a means to an end—as I might
a toothbrush or a car. I talk to
people in order to get something off my chest, not to be with them as separate individuals. I talk about people––authority figures,
people in the news, et cetera––as if
they were subhuman. I get frustrated when people don’t conform to my plans
or see things the way I do.
The priest and the Levite did not make the connection that emotional maturity (loving well) and loving God are inseparable. They missed the “thou” lying on the side of the road and simply passed him by.
Question
to Consider
Take a few moments to consider the people you will encounter today. What might it look like for you to slow down and treat each one as a “thou” rather than an “it”?
Take a few moments to consider the people you will encounter today. What might it look like for you to slow down and treat each one as a “thou” rather than an “it”?
Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me. I am aware, Lord, of how often I treat
people like an “it.” Help me to view each person I meet with the eyes and heart of Christ.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Conclude
with Silence (2 minutes)
Download
the entire devotional for free
For
more:
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