When it comes to what the Lord asks of us, there is no better story than that of the Good Samaritan. In this story, Jesus was being tested by a “expert in the law,” but it still yields clarification for us all when asking the question, “Who is my neighbor?”
Jesus didn’t offer a definition — He told a story about the person in need right in front of you on the road.
The Bible reading is found in Luke 10:25-37…..
“On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. ‘Teacher,’ he asked, ‘what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ ‘What is written in the Law?’ Jesus replied. ‘How do you read it?’ He answered, ‘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, Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ‘You have answered correctly,’ Jesus replied. ‘Do this and you will live.”
“But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbor?'”
“In reply Jesus said: ‘A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’”
“‘Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?'”
“The expert in the law replied, ‘The one who had mercy on him.'”
“Jesus told him, ‘Go and do likewise.'”
There are a few important take aways for us all –
- We know that we are not saved by works, but by grace alone and placing our faith in Jesus Christ. This lawgiver was given a standard of living Jesus knew He could not meet.
- As people who know our inheritance of eternal life comes through faith in Christ, we are still called to follow the instructions Jesus provides – “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your heart and with all your mind; and Love your neighbor as yourself.”
All the ways we can love God is for another blog, but when it comes to loving our neighbor, at Community First we understand the importance of paying attention to the needs of those God places along our own street.
Loving our neighbors doesn’t usually start with a program. It starts with a name, an outstretch hand, a meal, and a willingness to be inconvenienced.
Here’s a simple challenge for the week: write down the names of the five households closest to yours. Pray for each one, asking God to show you who has a need that you can help meet. The ultimate goal being to let them know God is near and to glorify Him in the process.
It is Christ’s kindness that leads people to repentance, so let’s follow in His footsteps and be dispensers of kindness in Homeland and beyond. As Galatians 6:9 tells us. “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
– Community First COG Administration