Questions That Demand an Answer
Life is filled with questions, but some questions are too important to ignore and too serious to leave unanswered. They can challenge our beliefs, examine our choices, and compel us to confront the truth of God’s Word in our own lives.
1ST QUESTION that demands an answer - Luke 10:25, a lawyer stood up to test Jesus and asked Him a question: “Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
I believe many people hear “eternal life” as one word and something that subconsciously in their mind is put off until they die and go to heaven. If we see “eternal life” as two words, it becomes what it really is or what it should be – a perpetual, on-going, never to stop, absolute, in its fullest sense…life – NOW!
Eternal means perpetual, without beginning and end, that which always has been and always will be, never to cease.
Life (zoe) means absolute fulness of life, in its fullest sense, a life active and vigorous, devoted to God, blessed.
Jesus answers his question by bringing him back to the law.
Luke 10:26-28 He said to him, "What is written in the law? What is your reading (understanding) of it?"
27 So he answered and said, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,' and 'your neighbor as yourself.'"
28 And He said to him, "You have answered rightly; do this and you will live."
Jesus was saying, “DO THIS AND LIVE.”
DO – commit without any delay, to carry out, and execute
THIS – that (thing), this (thing)
LIVE - to live, breathe, be among the living (not lifeless, not dead) to enjoy real life, worthy of the name. active, blessed, endless in the kingdom of God. It also means having vital power in itself and exerting the same upon the soul, to be in full vigour, to be fresh, strong, efficient, active, powerful, efficacious
2ND QUESTION that demands an answer: Luke 10:29 — “But he, wanting to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?”
The lawyer really wanted to know the boundaries of his responsibility to love others and who qualified to receive his love. Jesus answers him with the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30–37).
In Luke 10:36 Jesus asks a question! I know this behavior! … Answering a question with a question! 😉 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
In Luke 10:37 the lawyer answers, “The one who showed him mercy,” replied the expert in the law. Then Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” Again, Jesus was saying, DO THIS AND LIVE.
Jesus was really teaching that a neighbor is someone who has a need you refuse to ignore. He was explaining that the “Good Smartian” was moved with compassion (yearning of the bowel, gut wrenching) which was demonstrated by his response to act. Thus, the answer to the second question. A neighbor is revealed by what you do.
Once the second question, “Who is my neighbor,” was answered, Jesus gives the lawyer a command—not merely to understand the parable, but to live it:
“Go, and do likewise.” “Go and do” or “DO THIS AND LIVE” sounds like Jesus’ command was, “Let it become life in your life.” Do something with what you know.
There is a difference between knowing the instructions and following the instructions. It is easy to think that because we have “heard” the instruction we are “doing” it. It is parallel to because someone has heard the truth, they are inherently “doing” the truth. Not so! Instruction warrants a response. Because the good Samaritan was moved with compassion, he poured in the oil, poured in the wine, and brought him to a safe place. That was a response.
3RD QUESTION that demands an answer - “What are you doing with what you know?”
God's Word is not merely something to hear, know, or quote. It is something to obey and live out. Throughout scripture, God repeatedly gives people instructions connected to life, deliverance, healing, victory, provision, and restoration. Sometimes the instruction seems simple. Sometimes it requires faith. Sometimes it demands repentance. But the recurring principle is that hearing God's instruction must lead to a response.
TWO THINGS I HEARD: “Live and Let Die” and “Do or Die.”
Disclaimer! Not everyone who has a need requires your action. Discernment is critical here. Ask yourself if they are sheep or a goat. Do they continually disobey instruction from God or leadership? Like Rev. Ryan said, “I am not here to fund your rebellion.” etc. God gives us resources and gifts. Remember, time is a resource. We have to steward that which has been given to us.
Live and Let Die: This is not a season of tolerance; the season is spiritual conflict. We can be moved with compassion, and we can act on instruction from God. That doesn’t mean that every situation warrants YOUR resources. Some things you will have to “let die”. Why would we want weeds to live? They will only reproduce into more weeds. Tolerance will give “life” to weeds i.e. people, things, behaviors, etc. Tolerance will ultimately destroy or steal YOUR life in the fullest sense. We must be OK with “Live and Let Die.”
Do or Die: is the moment that requires total commitment. There are high stakes in desperate situations. We call it make or break, all-or-nothing, win or bust, life or death, eleventh hour, or last-ditch effort. We are in a “do or die” moment. This is our last-ditch effort (because everything else has failed) to be hell-bent and single minded to respond to His mission, winning the lost!
Entering Into the Rest of It is just that, the MORE that is available that has not been done, pursued, or warranted results! This is a final, desperate effort made when everything else has failed. It is a "DO or DIE" moment. It is the DO THIS AND LIVE or be separated from God moment. Find the lost sheep and bring them to a safe place.
Let’s discuss:
1. What are you doing with what you know?
2. Who or what are you tolerating that is ultimately destroying the promise of YOUR life in the fullest sense?
3. How will you know that you have become so determined, so focused, and so persistent that nothing will distract you from pouring in the oil and the wine and ensuring the wounded are brought to safety?
I still love my church too Fran!
So many people tryna void inside so many Questions asking how asking why I might not have all the answers. Walk Jesus restoring broken souls follow goes choose love trust do by fire
What are you doing with what you know?
I tried new ways of expressing myself about God and the Bible
The stuff I was using wasn't working because it never produced any healthy fruit. So I have changed things how I go about in conversation with people by letting them finish not cutting people off process what they say and take some time and think about what they say before I come back with an answer I don't want to come across with what people are saying with out some sensitivity. But God has said sometimes you need to be bold in your statements and honest with people and as long ias I am speaking God's word and being obedient…
1. What are you doing with what you know? Choosing to be a watcher to speak after I have asked God what he wants to say and submit to being obedient to it and stepping out to say and or do his instruction.
2. Who or what are you tolerating that is ultimately destroying the promise of YOUR life in the fullest sense?
Old responses, old experiences to dictate my confidence for future stepping out moments of faith.
3. How will you know that you have become so determined, so focused, and so persistent that nothing will distract you from pouring in the oil and the wine and ensuring the wounded are brought to safety?
When the oil and the…
What are you doing with what you know? A couple of months ago, I had a new young man come into my working life. I had to choose right away to not be religious with how I approach or talk to this young man. I prayed and God gave me a love for him. I desire to see him saved but have no desire to preach religion at him and God began to remind me of unusual things in my life that He has done and when I would share those things at different times, it would open up the conversation to share more and more in unusual ways. Ultimately, the gospel has been being shared with him—just in ways I…