Love Willingly

Luke 9:51-56  “As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem.  When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?”  But Jesus turned and rebuked them.  Then he and his disciples went to another village.”

                This passage always makes me giggle at first.  I should have probably prefaced that opening sentence by mentioning that I usually have a pretty dark sense of humor.  I just imagine the disciples over-zealously suggesting that they have God smite the entirety of Samaria in fire all casually like that wouldn’t be an extreme reaction and Jesus just looking at them like they’re crazy going “No, we’re not going to do that, are you serious?”  I doubt that’s how it actually went down but it still entertains me to think of it like that.

                When looking at the passage though, I think the fact that Jesus—knowing full well that God did have it within his power to do what the disciples asked—chose to instead peacefully leave and let the Samaritans alone says a lot about his character.  If the Samaritans weren’t welcoming to Jesus to begin with, I can’t imagine destroying them would make them any more so.  I think Jesus realized the difference between being welcoming out of a good, kind spirit and being welcoming out of a place of fear and force. 

                God wants us to come to him because we want to—because we realize in our hearts that we need to—not because we’re scared if we don’t something bad will happen.  Time and time again, it is made clear that God wants a true and healthy connection with us which can’t happen if we feel forced into it.  Yes, we should fear God, but it shouldn’t be the basis of our relationship.  Don’t try to force people into a living a life with Christ and certainly don’t force yourself into one because God would rather have a son or a daughter than a barely willing captive.