In Luke 10:25-37 there is a very interesting conversation between Jesus and an expert in the law!  The original question was asked by the expert was:  “What must I do to inherit eternal life?”  The question reveals a lot – He basically wanted to know what was the minimum requirement?  A lot of us live our lives trying to do just enough to satisfy the minimum requirement!

Jesus answered, as he often does with a question:  “What is written in the law? – How do you read it?”  In other words how do you understand it?

The expert responded with:  “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind, and love your neighbor as yourself!”  Good answer!  Proving that we know what we are supposed to do, but often fall way short of doing it!

Jesus said”  “Right Answer – Do this and you will live!”  Jesus was giving the guy the secret to really living in this life and the next!  We don’t need another formula or strategy, we need to do what we know!

The expert still needed clarity or was looking for excuses, I tend to think it was the latter!  He wanted to know “Who is my neighbor?”  This is a tactic that we use a lot of times.  We want to talk about it, analyze it or think through it, rather than just jump in and get done what needs to be done!

Real living is not living to satisfy the minimum requirements, it is living to glorify our God!  I challenge you to move out of and beyond the limitations of excuses, justifications and playing the blame game and live in the wide open freedom of pursuing the magnificent will of our God, Who has an amazing plan for each of our lives!