Hey there! So, in this super interesting lesson, we're diving into the whole idea of coincidence and chance. We'll see how these random occurrences can actually show us a glimpse of God's plan. It all starts with a random family outing that ends up connecting us with a fellowship coordinator. This got us thinking about how the Bible talks about "coincidence." Turns out, the word "coincidence" isn't even in the King James Bible, and "by chance" is only mentioned twice.
The lesson transitions to the Parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37, highlighting the importance of loving and serving one's neighbor without prejudice. The story underscores the freedom and responsibility Christians have to act compassionately, as exemplified by the Samaritan who aided a wounded man while others passed by.
Further reflection on Galatians 5:1 and 5:13-14 emphasizes the believer's liberty from Old Testament law and the command to serve one another in love. This freedom is contrasted with the restrictions faced by Old Testament believers, who could not manifest God's unconditional love as modern believers can, thanks to the gift of the Holy Spirit.
The teaching concludes with a reminder from Proverbs 3:5 and Romans 8:28, encouraging trust in God's plan and recognition that all things work together for good for those who love Him. Believers are urged to embrace their freedom and serve others in God's love, making the most of divine appointments in their lives.
Enjoy.
Yesterday, my wife and I went for a bike ride. In the morning. Umstead park. Really nice ride, beautiful. We were free to enjoy the natural abundance everywhere.
Afterward, we gathered up the kids and went for lunch. Whiskey Kitchen. One of our favorite places. Great food. Best whiskey selection in town. After that, we walked to our truck. Saw the street blocked. Knew it was a street festival. So we decided to check it out.
By chance, we saw our fellowship coordinator there. Partying. Under a big popup canopy “Party Shack” tent. Talking, passing out flyers, doing his thing. And I looked around, and realized that I was hanging out with my family, Asa, and all of my neighbors.
And I thought, what a coincidence or chance meeting this is! Meeting Asa. I thought, that’s an interesting idea. Bumping into someone (someone I know, or don’t yet know) unexpectedly, by coincidence, or by chance.
Later, I researched the word “coincidence” and the phrase “by chance.” Let me ask you a question. How many times does the word “coincidence” appear in the King James Bible? Any guess? Zero.
It appears once in the English Standard Version. Once in New American Standard Bible. Once in the Amplified. Once in the Young’s Literal Translation. But zero in KJV.
How about the phrase “by chance?” This exact phrase occurs only twice in the KJV. I know this because…
We can use the Blue Letter Bible.org, type into the search “by chance.”
Let’s read about the priest who came down the way by chance (by accident, just like we did, down the street in Raleigh yesterday) in Luke 10.
Let’s go to Luke 10. And let’s start at verse 25. Let’s read Luke 10:25 - 37. These verses contain one of the most famous parables of Jesus: The Parable of the Good Samaritan. And the story can teach us about loving one’s neighbor, and also about the problems of having prejudices (personal, cultural, and religious prejudices). A prejudice is an opinion that a person has formed in their head that is not based on reason or actual experience.
So, let’s read Luke 10:25 - 37.
25 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?
27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.
29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?
30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.
33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.
36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?
37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
Jesus uses this parable to redefine a word. He redefines the word “neighbor." He takes the word, a noun, that means the person living in the house next to yours, and makes it mean so much more. He turns it into an adverb. “Neighborly.” He teaches about taking care of people, anyone, in need. And serving others. And showing love toward others.
The priest and the Levite in the parable didn’t help the wounded man for personal, religious, and cultural reasons. But we have the free will and freedom to “go and do” like the Samaritan.
Let’s turn to Galatians 5.
God has given us (us believers) a very important command. We are told to live in freedom and liberty. I like that commandment. I respect that. I can keep commandments, for this is the whole duty of a believer.
Let’s read Galatians 5:1: “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”
“The yoke of bondage” refers to the Old Testament law. People (believers) in the Old Testament lived under rules, policies, and spiritual truths that applied to their day and time. The Levite and the priest in the parable who didn’t help a stranger, they were stuck, living under the old law. After Jesus Christ fulfilled the Old Testament law, these laws ceased to apply to believers.
This is very important for us to understand. We are no longer obligated to fulfill the law. Jesus Christ fulfilled the law, once and for all, and made us free, on the day of Pentecost, when believers received the gift of holy spirit for the first time.
Today, we live within the boundaries of a new set of policies and spiritual truths, written from Romans through Thessalonians. That’s our playbook, so to speak. That’s our guide.
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
And in Galatians 5:1, which we just read, we are to stand fast, in the liberty. The word “liberty” means “a state of being unrestricted, unfettered, and free.”
Galatians also tells us that, with this liberty, with this freedom, free will, we are to choose to serve one another in love. Jesus Christ freed us from the old law. His accomplishments started a new way of living, a new way of thinking, one based on love. And we have been instructed to serve one another, in love. Something that the priest and the Levite of Jesus’s parable of The Good Samaritan didn’t understand. It wasn’t even possible for them to fully understand, they way we do today.
Let’s read Galatians 5:13,14: “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love [agapē] serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love [agapaō] thy neighbour as thyself.”
We serve one another in agapē love, that unconditional love, in the renewed mind in manifestation, that we receive when we are born again of God’s spirit.
In the Old Testament, it was impossible for anyone to manifest God's love. It was impossible for any believer in the Old Testament to manifest unconditional agapē love.
Why? Because they could not be born again and filled with God’s spirit, like we can.
But for us, this love is possible.
Please turn to and read 1 John 4.
Let’s read 1 John 4:11, “Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.”
In closing…
The word “coincidence” does not appear in the King James Bible.
And hardly anything happens “by chance” in the bible.
I don’t fully understand if we bumped into Asa and the Party Shack crew yesterday for a reason or by chance. But Proverbs 3:5 reminds me to “trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.”
What I do know is “that all things work together for good to them that love God.” (Romans 8:28)
And that, all things are “of him, and through him, and to him.” (Romans 11:36)
We believers have been freed from the Old Testament law. We have been given something amazing. A gift. A gift of holy spirit. And this gift, we have because of the works of Jesus Christ. We are to hold onto this freedom, and to go and do, serve one another in God’s love.
So, knowing what we’ve been given, let’s use our freedom to serve one another in love.
Conclusion
Hey there, fellow believer! Ever thought about those so-called "coincidences" as divine winks from above? It's like God's way of saying, "Hey, pay attention, I've got a plan here!" So, let's channel our inner Good Samaritan vibes and spread some love and kindness around. Break those stereotypes, show some compassion, and watch how your actions can make a real difference. Embrace the freedom in Christ to be a beacon of love and support for others. Remember, every interaction is a chance to sprinkle a little bit of God's love and grace in this crazy world of ours. So, go out there, be awesome, and let's make God proud!
Comments