The Daily Challenge
by D. E. Stribling

OUR IDENTITY WITH CHRIST IS DETERMINED BY WHAT WE DO.
Those Who Will,

and Those Who Won't

Luke 10:25-37

 25 One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”

 26 Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?”

 27 The man answered, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.

 28 “Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!”

 29 The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

Parable of the Good Samaritan

 30 Jesus replied with a story: “A Jewish man was traveling on a trip from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road.

 31 “By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. 32 A Temple assistant[b] walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side.

 33 “Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. 34 Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. 35 The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins,[c] telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’

 36 “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked.

 37 The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.”

   Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”

 

 “And who is my neighbor?”

Today's counterpart of the priest in The Good Samaritan Story is the pastor who turns his back on a needy neighbor.
"Needs" are needs, whether an injured man by the road, or a despairing disabled person.

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When you hear "poor person," picture an elderly lady whose savings have vanished, or a person who has been struck down by a debilitating disease and can no longer work,

How can we not have compassion on people who literally are at the bottom, who have no way out unless a stranger intercedes?

 

Our actions identify us.

 

Jesus said, people would know "we are His, by our love." 

His famous parable of the Samaritan, speaks about action by one, and the lack of action by two others (who should have known better).  This is no small matter, for our response to need, more than anything else, labels us.   In the face of human need, some will stop and help, others will not.

 

The pace of life was much slower then, yet the Priest and the Levite, were "too busy," or too self absorbed, to help a man in need. It is even more difficult today for people to slow down long enough to really look at a neighbor who may be struggling over the most basic life needs.   Our beloved schedules certainly seem important to us, yet from a heavenly view, they are not a worthy excuse for missing an opportunity to serve.

 

Some believe, really believe, that they are called to serve as God inspires them to, others do not.


The Practice of Sharing Christianity

God's love in our hearts keeps expanding our ability to love others as Christ loves us.
Practice makes perfect.

See the SAMARITAN article.

See Yesterday's Challenge       

  DOING
THE LORD'S WORK