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LOVE REACHES OUT As
Christians we must always have something to give – genuine love, some
encouragement, some kind act to a person in need, etc.
It was the compassion of Jesus that opened many doors for Him to
minister into people’s lives. In comparison, the religious leaders of Jesus’ day showed
little or no compassion. Luke
10:30-37 brings us the compassionate story of a man who reached out in
love and compassion – the account of the Good Samaritan. He could have chosen to cross the road and turn his back on
the situation, just as the two men who had come on the scene previously.
But there was something inside the Good Samaritan that prevented
him from ignoring the injured man’s plight – a heart that felt the
hurts of others. First
on the scene that day was a religious man, a priest, who outwardly
looked just the person to display love and compassion for one in such a
state of urgent need. But,
somehow, suddenly the scenery on the opposite side of the road looked
more attractive to him than that which he was now seeing directly in
front of him. “Why get involved? Why
get my hands dirty?” Then
along came another religious man, a Levite (temple assistant) who also
came and observed the seriously wounded man, then too felt “led” to
cross the road and put distance between himself and the need. So
the wounded man lay bleeding and dying on the road while religion passed
him by. The
next on the scene was a Samaritan man - one who had every excuse to pass
by on the other side, because, under normal circumstances, the wounded
Jewish man would have had no dealings with him. But today was different!
Today his own race had failed him!
The
Samaritan surveyed the situation and compassion arose in his heart –
he approached the injured man; he bound up his wounds; he poured in oil
and wine; he placed him on his own “taxi”; he brought him to an inn;
he took care of him; then he paid the bill to cover every need the
Jewish man had. Was the
Good Samaritan a hero? No,
he was a loving, compassionate servant - one who knew he had the means
to restore another in need. Did the
fact that the injured man “despised” him deter him from the task?
No, he wasn’t looking for a reward; he was looking for
restoration. I am convinced
that, after this Jewish man had recovered, he would have seen the
Samaritans in a totally different light.
His heart would have been softened to realise that all mankind
are of equal value. “Lord, keep my heart soft and humble so that I will never ‘cross the road’ in face of a need if I can help.”
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