Good Morning.

Two thousand years later, the message hasn't changed. . . two thousand years later, the Son of God looks in our eyes and into our hearts and the message hasn't changed. . . two thousand years later, it is still ours to respond to the simplicity of His invitation--Come, follow Me. Though your mate may not go with you. . . Come, follow Me. Though your children may not understand, or your Jewish mother either. . . there it is again, Come, follow Me. Though you might feel a little afraid, because following Him is sure to make you different. . . Come, follow Me. . . and yes, you sure ought to be a little different, my child. Following Jesus should make us at least a little different.

"As the time drew near for Him to ascend to Heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem." (NLT) Resolutely. It is what He came to do, although He knew that it was going to cost Him everything when He got there. Resolutely. . . So Jesus sends someone ahead of Him to find a place of rest on the journey, which winds through Samaritan territory; they did not want Him there--why? Well, to understand that, a little history is in order. . . and it sheds light on how it is that there is so much fighting in that region yet today. There always has been turmoil in the holy land, and always will be. Let's go back to the time when Assyria invaded the northern kingdom of Israel, (2 Kings 17), and settled it with its own people. Born of that, a mixed-race people who became known as the Samaritans. Blue-bloods, ''purebred' Jews hated these 'half-breeds,' so in turn, the Samaritans hated them. Kinda like the Hatfields and McCoys--their grandchildren wouldn't even remember why they were supposed to hate each other, but they did--because it had always been that way. . . and you've got to love James and John who were ready to vindicate Jesus right then, on the spot. 'Come on, Lord, let us--we'll demolish them!' You know I don't roll that way, boys, haven't you been listening? On they go.

We seem to live in a world that is growing increasingly hostile to the gospel, ('No' on prop. 8 folks stomping on crucifixes on last nights news), we must guard any hard heartedness toward any who are seemingly rejecting God, just like these Samaritans did. Let us instead be moved to pray for their eyes to be opened. . . for truth to prevail. . . for the Holy Spirit to woo those people to Himself. (Remember, as the Roman's drove nails through Jesus' flesh, He said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." Luke 23.34 How could Jesus pray such a thing? He cared more for their eternities than anything else--He cared more for their eternities than His physical pain and death.

Do you care about the eternities of other people? Are you concerned about people who are far from God? I am. . . and not just my immediate family. I used to skate around my neighborhood, (rollerblade), and pray for my neighbors by name, that they would come to know God. Sometimes, I touched their vehicles as I rolled by, praying in earnest for them; would you believe that God answered my prayer for four of them? They have come to faith and have their own relationships with Jesus Christ. The other day I commented on looking through the eyes of Jesus if we could, and seeing what He saw. . . what He sees. . . how He looks at things. . . how He feels about them. You know, our hearts should break with the things that break the heart of God. Mine often does not. My heart is calloused in areas. I implore you, dear friends, stop and think about how the Lord feels about anyone that would go into eternity separated from Him. . . eternity is a LONG TIME. Because we have souls and are eternal beings, we will live forever with God or without God--in the glory of Heaven or the misery of darkness and torment in Hell.

So, let me ask you? Have you hardened your heart toward any Samaritans? Perhaps it is time to think again. . . perhaps it is time to view them as Jesus sees them. . . and from an eternal perspective. I challenge you to write down the names of some people in your life who are far from God: co-workers, friends, family members, or neighbors; then, start praying for them. Pray that God will put people in their paths who love Him, or even step into their paths Himself, like He did with Paul. Here, let me get you started: Dear Lord, I lift up my son, Matthew; he is so far from you. O God, please soften his heart toward You, I pray. . . Lord, I pray for my neighbor, Larry; he seems to have no interest in You. O God, he is a good person, but I know that he is lost, and will remain that way forever unless he finds you! Please, Lord, soften his heart, point him toward You." Just like that, friends. Pray confidently because you are praying in accordance with God's heart, with His will. "He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." 2 Peter 3.9 For God so loved...He gave His Son so that whoever believes will not perish (die) but have eternal life. John 3.16. That is good news.

Think about it. . . some Samaritan family missed the opportunity to have Jesus Christ spend the night in their home! 'Guess they'll have all of eternity to rethink that one!

So that you may know,

Christine