Stop Stepping Over Jesus: Getting Him Out of the Ditch

Stop Stepping Over JESUS! 

The engine of my car was idling, and I was checking my watch for the fifth time in three minutes. I could feel that familiar prickle of irritation rising in my chest. I have known Vicki, a powerhouse evangelist from Colombia, for a long time. She is a woman who loves God with every fiber of her being, but she had one habit that absolutely drove my carnal mind crazy: she was late. Everywhere. Every time.

I sat there thinking, If she’s such a good Christian, shouldn’t she keep her word about being on time? It’s funny how we define "good Christianity" by Western standards of punctuality while people are literally dying around us without the hope of the Gospel. I was so focused on the schedule, the "religious duty" of getting to a service, that I almost missed the entire point of why we go to church in the first place.

This is the "storm of our own making" I find myself in more often than I’d like to admit. We get caught up in our own timelines, our own "stinking thinking," and our own theological boxes. We want to defend the Lord on social media threads or argue over endless genealogies, but meanwhile, Jesus is laying in a ditch right in front of us, and we’re too busy checking our notifications to notice.

The Trap of Religious Paralysis

I love seeking out new truths in the old Bible. It’s a passion of mine. I often say that we go from faith to faith—from milk to meat, and then from meat to lobster, and even to key lime pie! But there is a hidden danger in the pursuit of "meat." We can get so caught up in the "meat" of theology that it paralyzes us.

I’ve met so many brothers and sisters who say, "Conrad, I can’t go out and share the Gospel yet. I haven’t studied enough. I need to be a better Berean. I need to get my theology 100% right before I do anything." They are seeking "Paralysis by Analysis." They’ve shackled their own feet with chains of "perfect knowledge" so they never have to actually walk.

Think about the Gadarene demoniac. That man didn’t go to a single day of Bible school. He didn’t have a systematic theology degree. He had an encounter with the biblical Jesus, and by day one, he was a preacher. He didn’t wait until he understood the nuances of the Law; he just knew that he was once bound and now he was free.

We often use "theology" as an idol to hide behind because we are afraid of the messiness of the ditch. For the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be (Romans 8:7 KJV). Our flesh would much rather argue about a Greek verb on Facebook than help a homeless man find a meal, because arguing makes us feel right, but serving makes us feel vulnerable.

Seeing the Christ in the Conflict

We find the heart of this issue in Luke 10. You know the story—the Parable of the Good Samaritan. A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell among thieves. They stripped him, wounded him, and left him half dead.

Now, look at who passes by. First, a priest. Then, a Levite. These weren't just random folks; these were the "church people." They had religious duties. They were likely on their way to the temple. Perhaps they didn't want to get "unclean" by touching a body that might be dead. They had a "biblical" reason to stay away! But they had a selfish motive for walking by. They prioritized the institution of God over the image of God laying in the dirt.

Then comes the Samaritan. To the "holy" people of that day, he was an outcast, a heretic. But he was the one who had compassion. He didn't just feel bad; he did something. He got his hands dirty. He put the man on his own beast. He paid the bill at the inn.

Jesus is teaching us something profound here that ties directly into what He said in Matthew 25:40: And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me (KJV).

When you see a brother or sister in the ditch—whether they are naked, hungry, or just broken-hearted—that is Jesus in the ditch. If we are so caught up in our traditions that we forget to help the guy in the ditch, we have lost our focus. We are looking at the storm and sinking, just like Peter did.

Personal Reflections: The Day I Was "Late" for Church

I remember a specific Friday night. We were headed to Victory Christian Center in Spring, Texas. It was a good drive, and of course, I left early because I wanted to be there to chat before the service started. I had Vicki with me.

On the way, I pulled over at a gas station to grab some mints. I was only inside for a few minutes. When I walked back out to the car, Vicki was gone. My heart sank. Oh boy, what happened now? Are we going to be late again?

I scanned the parking lot and finally saw her. She was standing by this massive, "muscled-up" pickup truck. Reaching up toward the driver’s side window was this small Colombian woman, and inside the truck was a man who looked like he could lift the vehicle himself. But he wasn't acting tough. He was bawling his eyes out.

In the three minutes I was buying mints, Vicki had seen a man in a "spiritual ditch." She didn't care about our ETA at the church building. She saw Jesus in that man, crying out for help. She prayed with him right there, he was convicted of his sin, and he repented.

We were late to church that night. But we brought the Church to a gas station parking lot. I realized then that my anger at her "lateness" was actually an idol of my own making. I was the priest walking by on the other side, and she was the Samaritan. I had to repent of my "stinking thinking." I had to crucify that high place of punctuality that I had seated above the souls of men.

Biblical References

The Bible is clear that our relationship with God is inextricably linked to how we treat those around us. Paul understood this deeply. Remember when he was Saul, breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples? On the road to Damascus, Jesus didn't ask, "Why are you hurting those people?" He asked, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? (Acts 9:4 KJV).

Jesus identifies so closely with His body that to touch a Christian is to touch Him. Paul eventually got this revelation, writing, I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20 KJV).

If Christ lives in us, then our ministry is to love the person next to us at this very moment. It isn't just about "getting through the day"; it's about recognizing that God puts people in our path intentionally.

Key Takeaways

• Action over Argument: Theology is meant to lead us to Christ, not replace our service to Him.
• Identify the Ditch: The "least of these" are often right in front of us, disguised as "inconveniences."
• The Christ Connection: What you do to your neighbor, you are doing to the Lord Himself.
• Crucify Religious Idols: Don't let your "traditions of men" make the Word of God of none effect.

Conclusion and Call to Action

Are you sinking in a storm of your own making? Are you more concerned with being "right" than being "loving"? I want to encourage you to take your eyes off the debate and put them back on Jesus—and you might just find Him laying in the ditch next to you.

Don't let "paralysis by analysis" keep you from your calling. If you haven't already, check out my books OPEN YOUR EYES and Overcoming Night Terror at