Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – July 27, 2019
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 10:36-37
I recently reflected upon Jesus as our Good Samaritan, who in his radical, self-giving love enters into the chaos of the world to heal us in the most unexpected and unlikely of ways. This is the foundational truth that animates and inspires every aspect of our life with God, and it is a truth that brings with it a radical reality: we who are healed are invited to become healers. As Jesus heals and renews us, he tells us to “go and do likewise.”
If we don’t first acknowledge God’s healing and restoration, our attempts at service are born out of moralistic striving. However, if we do not share his grace we become bloated and inward focused, forgetting that we are healed in order to share in God’s great healing work. Truth be told, we are more comfortable with Jesus entering into our chaos in order to heal us. We are far less comfortable entering into the messiness of other people’s brokenness!
In the story of the Good Samaritan, the priest passing by commits the “sin of disentanglement.” He sees a need, yet talks himself out of intervening on moral and religious grounds. “What if this man is dead and I become ritually unclean? What if he isn’t Jewish- do I owe him anything, then?” “I’m on my way home from serving a very important role in God’s Kingdom and don’t have time for this inconvenience.”
What are the justifications we make in our own day?
“I can’t give that person any money, who knows what they’ll do with it?” “They’re needy because of their own poor choices and are simply getting what they deserve.” “They didn’t come here legally, why should I help?” “It’s the government’s job to take care of them.”
These questions likely make you uncomfortable as you read them. Undoubtedly, the lawyer was deeply uncomfortable as Jesus told him the story of the Good Samaritan. It is meant to upset and unsettle our assumptions of who is worthy of love and compassion. It is an unapologetic call to see our common humanity in the other, to begin to see ourselves as just as needy as the next person and therefore free to join Jesus in healing wounds wherever they are to be found. The love of the Samaritan is scandalous in its lack of discrimination. Is yours?
Prayer
Father, so fill our hearts with your love that our love for others extends in radical and extravagant ways, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Application
Where has fear kept you from loving others as you have been loved by Jesus?
Related Reading
Deuteronomy 15:11; Galatians 6:2; Hebrews 13:16
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Love enters into the messiness of other people’s brokenness. #WisdomHunters #love #Jesus
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