Dependence on God
January 25 | Donavon Hintz
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Luke 10:25-11:13
The Parable of the Good Samaritan
25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27 And he answered, “You shall 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 your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”
29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two denarii[a] and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”
Martha and Mary
38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus[b] entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary.[c] Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
The Lord's Prayer
11 Now Jesus[d] was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” 2 And he said to them, “When you pray, say:
“Father, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come.
3 Give us each day our daily bread,[e]
4 and forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
And lead us not into temptation.”
5 And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, 6 for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; 7 and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? 8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence[f] he will rise and give him whatever he needs. 9 And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 11 What father among you, if his son asks for[g] a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
Life in Christ is a life of continual dependence on God that reorders our priorities, fuels our prayer and overflows in sacrificial love. Luke places these stories together on purpose. They are not random events strung together. They are a unified picture of following Jesus. They show us what a dependent life actually looks like when it is lived out in real relationships, real choices and real faith.
Dependence on God Reshapes How We See Others
Luke begins with a conversation with a religious leader concerning eternal life and, ultimately, about who his neighbor is. The man is not asking how to love better or how to follow the law better. He is asking how to limit his responsibility to not be guilty. Instead of Jesus letting him off the hook, He responds with a story. The story is about a man who is attacked, beaten, robbed and left half dead. Three men pass by. A priest. A Levite. And a Samaritan. Each of these titles carried deep cultural meaning. The first two see the man and pass by on the other side. Then comes the Samaritan who has compassion on him. He helps him out and even spends his own money on his care.
Love of neighbor is not self-justifying or selective. It does not ask, “What will this cost me?” It asks, “What does mercy require?” Dependence on God reshapes how we see others, as neighbors placed in our path by God.
Dependence on God Begins with Listening
Luke then moves us from a dangerous road to a home, the home of Mary and Martha. Martha is busy serving. Mary sits at Jesus’ feet, listening. Martha becomes frustrated and voices it. Jesus cares deeply about Martha and sees that her frustration reveals something deeper. He calls out her anxiety and tells her that Mary has chosen the better portion.
We never get a resolution. Luke leaves us sitting with the tension. Many things demand our attention. Many good things feel urgent. But one thing is necessary— sitting at Jesus’ feet and listening to Him. We live in a world that believes listening can be multitasked. But listening is more than hearing words. Listening requires slowing down and allowing truth to shape our hearts. If we say we value Jesus, we show it by spending time with Him. Being with Jesus always precedes doing for Jesus. Otherwise, even faithful service becomes anxiety-driven, rather than worship-filled.
Dependence on God Is Practiced Through Prayer
Prayer is often discussed in churches, but many of us quietly resonate with the disciple who says, “Lord, teach us to pray.” Prayer is a learned practice. There is discipline involved and there is direction. Jesus gives both. He teaches us to pray in a way that centers our lives on God’s holiness, God’s Kingdom, daily dependence, forgiveness and guidance. This prayer is meant to be repeated and reflected on. It is not empty repetition; it is intentional dependence.
Jesus ends this section explaining that God is a good Father who gives the greatest gift - His Spirit. He is a God who delights to be with us, to guide us, to love us. “Follow me,” that is His call to each of us. To follow Him is to choose, daily, to live a life dependent on God.
Know Jesus. Enjoy Jesus. Depend on Jesus. That is the life of a Christ follower.
Discussion Questions
Where do you most often find yourself living independently of God, rather than dependently on Him (work, relationships, finances, schedule, emotions)?
Who are the people you are most tempted to overlook, disdain, avoid or pass by in your everyday life?
What “good things” in your life or faith might be crowding out time to simply sit with Jesus and listen?