The Good SamaritanDo Not Focus on the Mess

Yes, we do this everywhere and all the time.
We see the problem, the struggle,
And the mess being made.
When we focus on the issues,
They become larger than life.

Perhaps it’s a bit of Anne Murray’s morning.
Do you need some good news today?

Anne Murray: A Little Good News

I’ve learned something from driving over 2 million miles
If there is something you need to miss, say, a sign, or a tree
Don’t focus on it! Look for the opening of safety.
Let the clear driving lane become your focus, and you’ll be safe.

Someone shared this principle with me a long time ago.
Probably when thinking about driving skills on ice and in snow.
When slipping and sliding, keep your eyes on the clearing
And not the pole by the road. You go where your eyes take you!

My flight instructor told me something of the same.
Never focus on doing what’s wrong. Focus on flying correctly.
When you focus on the wrong, you are enhancing a bad choice.
Fly right, and you’ll more than like survive a long time.

Maybe this is the truth about sin, bad choices, and not learning from mistakes.
Focus on the negative, and you’ll produce even more negativity.
Focus on the good, the right, and the positive…isn’t that what Paul said?
Whatsoever things are honest, just, pure, lovely, and of good report!

Ahhaaaa… That’s what I need to pay attention to!
Good focus produces good results! Hate? Opposites are true!
So, I’ll share the good things at every possible moment.
Let’s keep producing Good and ignore the ignoble concept of Hate.

You may hate the action but do not hate the person.
Love as the Lord taught us to love,
Let our actions be what would show His Love.
If you are His Child, that’s the first Rule.

Max Lucado shared these remarks with Abilene Christian University.

Max Lucado Abilene Christian remarks
Max Lucado at Abilene Christian

Matthew 22:35-40 NKJV

Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying,
“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”
Jesus said to him,
‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART,
WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’
This is the first and great commandment.
And the second is like it:
‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’
On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
(Matthew 22:35-40 NKJV)

From this teaching, in Luke,
Jesus continues with the lesson of the Good Samaritan.

Luke 10:28-37 NKJV

And He said to him,
“You have answered rightly;
do this and you will live.”
But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus,
“And who is my neighbor?”
Then Jesus answered and said:
“A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves,
who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him,
and departed, leaving him half dead.
Now by chance a certain priest came down that road.
And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked,
and passed by on the other side.
But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’
So which of these three do you think was neighbor
to him who fell among the thieves?”
And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.”
Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

By Michael Gurley

Making Sense of Life, One Thought at a Time!