March 5, 2025 Morning Devotional
Morning Devotion: Read Luke - The Parable of the Good Samaritan - Part 1
Luke 10:25 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? 27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. 28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.
Before we get into the parable of the good Samaritan, we must answer the question “what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
The answer is to “love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul and with all thy strength and with all thy mind.”
Is repeated throughout the scriptures from Deuteronomy to the New Testament. It is a fundamental principle and precept given by God Himself.
The key to this is the word “love.” The love spoken of in this context is the greek word “Agape.” Agape is the love of God, a godly love. That kind of love is bestowed upon a person the moment he or she places their faith in Christ Jesus to save their soul. No Jesus, no Agape.
1John 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us.
Romans 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Without Agape the other love one can have is phileo love or eros love, neither of which can save a soul. Phileo, brotherly love, or Aros, erotic love is of the flesh and of the mind. Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 to find what true love is.
Before anyone is saved, the only love they had was engulfed in personal desire rather than God.
Ephesians 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
The following is what the world loves.
1Corinthians 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
Do you want true love, Agape love? My friend, that only comes from knowing the Lord Jesus Christ.
The choice is still yours,
Pastor Cook
