The Good Samaritan

“But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was, and when he saw him, he had compassion on him.” Luke 10:33

This morning, Pastor Troy Gardner of Samaritan’s Purse will share with us the parable of The Good Samaritan. We will be reminded of the Samaritan who stopped to help a man who was robbed and beaten. He easily could have looked the other way or passed by on the other side as the Levite and priest had done. After all, the victim was a Jew and in those days, Jews and Samaritans did not associate with each other. Any self-respecting Jew would rather walk several extra miles than risk running into a Samaritan and the Samaritans felt the same way.

In spite of that, the Samaritan reached out to help the Jewish man. He bandaged his wounds, put him on his own donkey, and took him to an inn. He even offered to pay for additional expenses the innkeeper might incur. He was willing to interrupt his schedule and use his own resources to help someone in need.

Why would this man stop and help when two religious leaders refused to do anything at all? What is it that drives many people today to lend a helping hand, open their homes, reach into their wallets, or interrupt their schedules to help someone in need? The answer is that they have compassion.

In this parable, the question is asked, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus’ story of the Good Samaritan reveals that it is not literally my next-door neighbor that we are to help but who can I be a neighbor to. Who can I reach out to in the name of Jesus and demonstrate compassion to?

Thought For Today: Are you following Christ’s example of showing compassion?

Today’s Prayer Focus: Thank God that He is a God of Compassion. Ask the Lord to help us show compassion to others the way that God has shown compassion to us. Deo Volente