Like a Good Neighbor…

The story is well known today. The application of the story isn’t.

We have been told about a man who went down from Jerusalem to Jericho and was attacked by thieves. They mugged him, beat him up, and basically left him for dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise, another religious person walked near but passed by on the other side. Then a rejected Samaritan came to where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him. The Samaritan cared for him, and bound up his wounds, and set him on his own ride, and brought him to a place to be taken care of. And in the morning when he departed, he took out money, and gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, “Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you…”
Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the victim of the thieves? We all know the answer is the “Good Samaritan.”
The Good Samaritan loved his neighbor. How did he love his neighbor? By showing mercy! Notice who passed by – the religious – and they didn’t care. Perhaps they offered thoughts and prayers as they brushed the hurting one aside. How sad.
All of our actions should be towards the goal of loving God and loving those that are near us. To show mercy is to love your neighbor, just like the Samaritan.

It’s much easier to kick the sin out of the camp and cast the sinner to hell than it is to love someone and meet their needs. Remember that Jesus hung out with sinners, tax collectors, lepers, and liars. He disciplined prostitutes. Jesus didn’t just tell His followers to learn the Law – He admonished them to live the Law. If Jesus was with us today, He would no doubt have lunch with the rejected too.
How can you show mercy and love to someone today? Don’t just read about the Good Samaritan – be a Good Samaritan!