One day, Jesus was approached by a religious expert in the law who asked, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” In short, the answer they arrive at is, “Love God unconditionally and love your neighbor unselfishly.” Jesus told the man, “Do this and you will live.”
But, wanting to set up some boundaries around how loving he had to be, the lawyer asked a follow-up, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus answered with a parable about a Jewish man who was mugged while traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho and left for dead on the side of the road. (Luke 10:30-37)
As the story goes, both a priest and a Levite pass by on their way to Jerusalem. Now the priests were organized into 24 divisions that served at the Temple twice a year for a week. But, if they touched a dead body, they would be deemed unclean for a week and not be able to fulfill their obligation. Can you see their dilemma? Both weighed their options and chose not to stop.
Then a Samaritan (despised by Jews) came along and not only stopped, but administered first aid, took the injured man to an inn and paid for his full recovery. Then Jesus asked the lawyer, “Which of these three was a neighbor?” The reluctant answer, “The one who had mercy.”
With this story, Jesus turned the question from “Who is my neighbor?” to “Do you even have the heart to be a neighbor?” He showed us that being a neighbor isn’t about proximity, similarity, or practicality. It’s about mercy! Mercy that flows from God, to us, and then through us to others.
So let’s turn the question to ourselves… Do we have the heart of mercy to be a neighbor? Are we so saturated with the mercy of God that it overflows into the lives of those around us? Or are we holding on to a religion that allows us to justify our selfishness?
Ask God to give you both the heart and opportunity to share His mercy today!
But, wanting to set up some boundaries around how loving he had to be, the lawyer asked a follow-up, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus answered with a parable about a Jewish man who was mugged while traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho and left for dead on the side of the road. (Luke 10:30-37)
As the story goes, both a priest and a Levite pass by on their way to Jerusalem. Now the priests were organized into 24 divisions that served at the Temple twice a year for a week. But, if they touched a dead body, they would be deemed unclean for a week and not be able to fulfill their obligation. Can you see their dilemma? Both weighed their options and chose not to stop.
Then a Samaritan (despised by Jews) came along and not only stopped, but administered first aid, took the injured man to an inn and paid for his full recovery. Then Jesus asked the lawyer, “Which of these three was a neighbor?” The reluctant answer, “The one who had mercy.”
With this story, Jesus turned the question from “Who is my neighbor?” to “Do you even have the heart to be a neighbor?” He showed us that being a neighbor isn’t about proximity, similarity, or practicality. It’s about mercy! Mercy that flows from God, to us, and then through us to others.
So let’s turn the question to ourselves… Do we have the heart of mercy to be a neighbor? Are we so saturated with the mercy of God that it overflows into the lives of those around us? Or are we holding on to a religion that allows us to justify our selfishness?
Ask God to give you both the heart and opportunity to share His mercy today!
Posted in devo