Choosing to go above and beyond
Thanks for joining me again today.
I have a favorite scene in The Chosen (who AMED partners with through Jesus.net) where we hear the story of the Good Samaritan from the perspective of one of the people who robbed him and left him for dead. While this part of the series is not directly from scripture, I believe it holds true to the heart of Jesus.
friend, can we revisit that precious story again?
On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus.
“Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
“What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.”
“You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.
“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” (Luke 10: 25-37, NIV)
My friend, can you imagine how this story shaped the hearts of the disciples? What generosity! What compassion!!
As we have contemplated a call to “pay it forward” through A Miracle Every Day, I want to emphasize one part of the story that we often overlook—we are the man on the road, left for dead and brutalized. Jesus is the Good Samaritan who pays for our care with His very life! That is the example we are called to follow!
Think about this powerful statement: “I will reimburse you.” In other words, I will pay the debt for someone else’s care! In reading the requests for help with resources, I was touched by this simple plea from Diane:
“I have a daughter with autism and live on a fixed income I cannot give at this time.”
There is the need. Diane can’t give right now, but Jesus said to those of us who can: “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
Never forget my friend,
You are a miracle!
