Ah the good ole days of infomercials come to mind as I read through all of Luke 10. It’s about lessons learned when we put our faith into practice. And that’s not all! We have a Q & A time with Jesus and the lawyer. But look there’s more! Jesus settles the age old problem of sibling rivalry.

Let’s take a closer look at these three encounters with Jesus.

Mission trip. As Jesus’ ministry continues from the previous chapters, He has demonstrated interaction with people, teaching truth, healing the sick and needy, and overall pointing them to His Father in heaven to His followers. In chapter 9, Jesus had sent out his 12 disciples in a similar manner to what takes place in verses 1- 24. In this mission trip there are other disciples that He sends out to minister in the nearby towns. 36 pairs set out with their faith in Jesus, mindful instructions, and not much else, because frankly, not much else is required.

Like so many missionary teams, when they go out representing Christ, they return with joy. There could have been many reasons for celebration, but the one that is given to us is that they were able to cast out demons. They may as well have said, Jesus “we crusted it!” As I imagine it, Jesus the leader, smiled with their enthusiasm but at the same time saw an opportunity to help them learn and grow. He gently redirects their enthusiasm toward what is more important. Of course they were able to accomplish what Jesus had sent them out to do, because God empowered them and they were acting in obedience. However, better still, is the assurance that they are connected to God forever, with the evidence of their names written in the role book in heaven.

Question: What are you most excited about? Accomplishments? Answers to prayer? God encounters? Or being God’s child?

Lesson: The bigger joy is that we are in relationship with Christ and forever adopted into God’s family. That is the foundation for everything.

Neighborly Advice. In verses 25-37 Jesus is asked a question by a scholarly guy, I’ll call him a lawyer. He proves his knowledge of the law by repeating it, “Love the Lord your God… and love your neighbor….” However, he wants Jesus to explain exactly who are the people that need to be loved, so he asks “who is my neighbor?” Jesus answers the question by giving him and example of what a neighbor does. A neighbor doesn’t discriminate between who he has to care for and who he can walk by, but is a servant when given the opportunity. A neighbor sacrifices. A neighbor goes above and beyond.

Question: Which is the bigger more difficult part of God’s command to fulfill? Loving God? Or Loving people?

Lesson: The call to be a neighbor is a bigger calling. That’s my personal opinion, but it isn’t just me. The priest walked by. He was content to do his religious duty. Same for the Levite. Same for the lawyer, who I believe was looking for justification to continue His comfort level. Loving people who you don’t know, don’t love, aren’t responsible for is hard and expensive on multiple levels. The bigger command is that we love our neighbor, and the first command to love God is what empowers us to do that.

Sisters and Chores. The scenario in verses 38-41 is that Jesus (and company) has stopped off to visit friends in Bethany. Martha invites them in, but then goes on about the household business. Meanwhile the guests are gathered around Jesus as he speaks, joined by her sister, Mary, who is soaking all of this in. Martha is ticked and complains to Jesus that Mary is not pulling her weight. Jesus sees right through Martha’s words to the heart of the matter. “Martha was distracted….” she forgot that the work needs to be done with the attitude of a servant, with joy. She forgot that humbling your self before Jesus comes first before anything else and that Mary is where she needed to be at that moment.

Question: Have you found yourself distracted by worldly stuff? How about this question, are you taking the time to “listen to what Jesus says”?

Lesson: The opportunity to sit at Jesus’ feet and listen to Him is a higher calling. Nothing wrong with the chores. Nothing wrong with being a great hostess. But there is something wrong when we begin to judge others and let frustration and anger develop when they are choosing something higher. It’s a distraction to our full attention and devotion to God.

I get distracted too. I miss opportunities to be a neighbor. And I sometimes just get caught up in accomplishments and celebrations that aren’t the most important. Just like all of these people written about in Luke 10, Jesus patiently redirects my attention, or my attitudes to something bigger, better, or higher. I love that about Him. I am encouraged to do the same for others when I have the chance and challenge you to do likewise. Not to let those moments go but to point people toward something or someone bigger, stronger, and eternal.

That is my double challenge to both of us today. To chose what is better, and to help others do the same.