The Lord Jesus is in a discussion with an attorney in Luke 10. The attorney ask a question all of us are interested in, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? (Luke 10:25). Jesus asks him a question in return, “What is written in the law? (Luke 10:26). The attorney, who knew the Mosaic law, replies, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and will all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself,” (Luke 10:27). Most would say this is rather basic.
Sometimes it is very important that we rediscover the basics. You have probably heard the story about Vince Lombardi’s time as coach of the Green Bay Packers. They were one of the NFL’s top teams and very hard to beat. But they became over confident and lost a game they should have won against the Chicago Bears in Soldier Field. Coach Lombardi was really upset by their play. When the plane landed i Green Bay on a cold and icy night, the coach loaded buses and took them straight to Lambeau Field. He instructed them to put back on there sweaty gear from the game and report to the field. Under the lights, in the cold, he began a practice session with the famous words, “Gentlemen, this is a football. We need to get back to the basics.”
How basic can you get? When we begin to lose our focus and drift off track, it’s time to go back and review the basics, even as a Christian. How can we reach the world if we do not love the Lord enough to reach our neighbors. Outreach begins not on the mission field overseas, but where we are now — next door, across the street, in our offices, in the stores we visit. This is where reaching the world for Jesus Christ begins — with our neighbors: they are all around us.
Get back to the basics: Love the Lord Jesus and share the Gospel with those around you! Ask God to open your eyes to them. You will be blessed!
Dr. David Bouler of Global Faith Ministries, Chattanooga, Tennessee, contributed this column to the Journal Review. He can be reached by email at debouler@aol.com.
