Devotion:
Read Luke 10:30-35.
Jesus had just been tested with a question and had potentially finished the conversation. Between him and his questioner, they had agreed that the Law (Scripture) was summed up with loving God and loving neighbor. But the guy had a follow-up question: “Who is my neighbor?” There were different lines of teaching at the time, mostly focusing on fellow Israelites. We might say “those who are your people” or “the people in your group.”
That’s what prompted Jesus to tell this story. To most of the people in his audience at the time, the Samaritan in the story would have been a hated character. When they heard about him coming down the road, their view of Samaritans would probably have had them thinking that he would only stop long enough to see if the wounded man had anything he could steal. Our usual title for the story, “The Good Samaritan,” is appropriate because they would probably facetiously label him that way, thinking that most Samaritans were, in fact, not good. (Maybe you have those same ways of thinking about certain groups of people.)
This Samaritan, knowing that if the situation were reversed, the other man probably wouldn’t help him, he still helps the man, even going beyond what would be expected. Maybe the question for all of us to ask ourselves is the one asked of Jesus: who do I consider to be my neighbor?
Personal Worship Option:
Another question for you to consider: Is there anyone to whom I should not show this kind of Christlike love and care? Ask God for eyes to see and ears to hear those around you each day who need to be shown the love of Christ.
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