5 Minutes a day / 5 Days a week

with God

Luke 10:29-37

29 But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" 30 Then Jesus answered and said: "A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 "Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 "Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. 33 "But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 "So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 "On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, 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.' 36 "So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?" 37 And he said, "He who showed mercy on him." Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."


This is a story we all know well, or at least we should.
But how often do we actually practice it?

"I help those in the church, I'm even on a committee to help those in need in my church." You may be thinking to yourself.

If that's what you think Jesus is talking about, then you need to read this parable again.
Notice Jesus mentions a priest came by but passed on the other side of the road instead of helping the man. Also a Levite or a worker in the temple did the same thing. Why, because the Samaritan wasn't one of their kind or from their church or even of the same denomination as the priest or Levite.

Jesus says this about those who think like that.

  • Matt 5:46-47 46 "For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 "And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?


    • "But they are of that cult or don't even believe in God or Jesus. Of course God wouldn't expect me to help that person."
    Actually He does. Notice the Good Samaritan didn't stop to see if he was a Samaritan or not. He just saw a man in need and helped him, even though the man he was helping may have despised him.
    You see the Jewish people considered the Samaritans low lives. But still the Samaritan did not even consider that, only that another person like himself, created and loved by God was in need.

    So who was the lowlife you passed up today?
    Remember that we are all lowlifes because of our sins, but still God didn't pass us up no matter how bad we were, or are!

    E-Mail
    Home Page