[Image designed by Larry Jarrett-Kerr]

What is the point of life?

(Based on Dom's recent Pastorate talk)
 
Luke 10 from verse 27
 
'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"

"You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live."

But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"

In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'

"Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"

The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."

What is the point of Life? LOVE.

LOVE GOD.

LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOUR.

THAT'S IT.

BUT YOU HAVE TO STOP.

FIRST STOP FOR GOD, SO YOUR ABLE TO STOP FOR YOUR NEIGHBOUR.

Jesus talked about three people walking down Ken High street as a man lay dieing from a beating by some gang. The first is a  priest, could be Nicky Gumbel. Nicky is late for a meeting with the Bishop of London so carries on. The second could be Al Gordon (Levites were in charge of worship).  Al is late for an Alpha conference so continues on his way. The third person is a Muslim. He stops, helps the guy, checks him into the nearest Holiday Inn, down Cromwell Rd, and meets him the next day for a coffee in Starbucks to have a chat and see how he is.

STOP. LONDON STOP. STOP FOR GOD IN THE MORNING AND THROUGHOUT THE DAY, THEN STOP FOR YOUR NEIGHBOUR. STOP FOR THE LIFT ATTENDANT WHO SIMPLY NEEDS A SMILE. STOP FOR THE ANNOYING RECEPTIONIST. STOP FOR THE BIG ISSUE SALESMAN. STOP FOR YOUR MUM. WHEN WE GET TO THE FINISH LINE AND MEET HIM FACE TO FACE THIS IS ALL THAT WILL COUNT.

Jesus have mercy and give us grace. Amen!