Luke 10:25-37
And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?” So he answered and said, “‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’ ” And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.” But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. “Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. “Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. “But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. “So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. “On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’ “So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?” And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
In this Gospel of Luke, Jesus shares in very plain words how He wants us to treat others. “Go and do likewise” is His answer to a scholar of the law who wanted to test Him. The Gospel also demonstrates that those who you would expect to help others may be too wrapped up on their own lives to stop and offer aid. Jesus directs us in the way that He wishes us to carry out our Christian lives. We are to love our neighbor as ourselves. This like so many other messages of Jesus invite us to be good stewards. Many have heard the saying “What Would Jesus Do?” We don’t need to look very far to get that very answer.
What would you do if you see a stranded motorist? What would you do if you see a homeless person? What would you do if you hear someone crying for help? Jesus shows us that we have the very same opportunity to love our neighbor as ourselves even in today’s society. Are you a good steward? Do you go out of your way to help a stranger?
Be the love that Jesus is for us. He loved us so much that He died for us. Being Christ like isn’t just lip-syncing the words. It’s showing our Christianity in our actions.
May God bless you!
