I’m not sure whether you’ve noticed, and it could possibly just be me, but a careful reading of and thoughtful meditation on Scripture is often uncomfortable. Sure, it’s all sunshine and roses here when I read about how closely the Israelites obeyed God and how well the kings listened to the prophets He sent (read: not at all), as long as I don’t think for too long about how well I myself obey. And sometimes, when the Holy Spirit shows me parallels that I’d rather not see – we all like to see ourselves as the hero/heroine of the story, but more often than not we’re more like the villain – I’m tempted to spend more time coming up with reasons why I’m really just fine the way I’ve always been and why I don’t need to change, than I do contemplating what the Lord has just shown me.
As it turns out, I’m not the only one. We’re given some interesting information in the lead-up to the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10. A lawyer asked Jesus what he needed to do to inherit eternal life, Jesus confirmed the law (the two greatest commandments, as Matthew 22 relates), and then the lawyer asked a follow-up question in order to justify himself. He was looking to declare himself righteous. You probably already know the story of the good Samaritan, and have likely heard a number of sermons and lessons about it. Without delving into the entire story and meaning, I think it’s safe to say that no one walks away from that passage with a feeling of comfort and confidence that they’ve always lived up to the standards that Jesus conveys there.
We’re not told how the lawyer responded to Jesus. Maybe he really did “go and do likewise”, as Jesus told him. Maybe he walked away convincing himself that he already lived in such a way. I don’t know. I’m not responsible for him. I am responsible for myself though, and how I respond when the Lord shows me places in which I fall short of His standards. May the times when I respond with self-justifying mental gymnastics and rationalizations grow fewer and fewer as the Lord continues to work within me.