On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked,"what must I do to inherit eternal life?" "What is written in the law?" he replied. "How do you read it?" He answered:"'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" (Luke10:25-28)

ZT:面對時速2MPH的基督徒們

Imagine you're driving down a residential street and see a sign:"Speed Limit 02 mph" What's your reaction? "That's impossible! I could walk faster than that!" Such a speed limit sign makes an impossible demand, even in a parking lot! Now suppose a policeman is standing there next to the sign with a radar gun. You had better take it seriously!

Such a sign reminds us of what Jesus is teaching: God's requirements and commands are just as impossible to keep as driving two miles per hour. Jesus was trying to teach this "Expert in the law" that he couldnt possibly love all his neighbors as himself, much less obey the First Commandment, to love the Lord with all his heart and soul and strength.

But, you see, the so-called expert in the law was looking for a way to get to heaven. The whole subject started with his test questions:"What must I do to inherit eternal life?" Perhaps he had heard what Jesus was teaching, that by simply believing and trusting in God who sent him people would be saved. The expert was positive that the Bible taught otherwise. He was out to save himself, by loving God and loving his neighbor. He thought he could do it, until Jesus shattered his illusions and give him a "traffic sign" he couldn't possibly keep. Jesus said of these two greatest commandments "Do this and you will live." Then with the parable of the good Samaritan, Jesus would teach him that he couldn't possibley do it.

As we examine our "love life" for others this week, we need to ask the question, Why should we ge involved with caring for others? It certainly won't get us to heaven. We've got just about as much chance of that as obeying a speed limit sign at 2 miles per hour. For now, let John remind us:"We love because he first loved us" (1 John 4:19).