During a political election year, a tow truck driver was called to assist a woman who was stranded with a broken-down vehicle. But the truck driver, upon seeing a bumper sticker on the car for a candidate he disliked, informed the motorist that he wouldn’t help her and drove away. His actions remind me how we sometimes choose to ignore those who need our help.
Jesus told the parable of a “Jewish man . . . traveling from Jerusalem” who was “attacked by bandits.” They stripped the man naked, “beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road” (Luke 10:30). One would have thought help had arrived when a priest happened along the way. But the priest “crossed over to the other side of the road and passed him by” (Luke 10:31). As the heat of the day grew fierce and the bleeding man’s wounds festered, a temple assistant also traveled by the scene of the crime. He too “passed by on the other side” (Luke 10:32).
Next a Samaritan came along, the last person you would ever expect to help a Jew (the two people groups did not get along). Yet the “Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged him. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn” (Luke 10:34). The Samaritan paid for medical care out of his own pocket and made provision for everything the suffering man might need. “Which of these three would you say was a neighbor?” Jesus asked. Of course, the neighbor was the one who demonstrated tangible mercy. “Go and do the same,” Jesus said (Luke 10:36-37).
There are many ways to offer mercy to others, whether by a prayer, a conversation, or a gift. When we see a need, may we meet it as God provides. Let’s choose to do something other than pass by.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Jeremiah 36:1-32
More:
Read Ephesians 2:4-5 and think about the depth of God’s mercy and grace.
Next:
When have you needed someone to come to your aid? How can you share with others the mercy God has poured out on you?
Gary Shultz on May 25, 2017 at 5:57 am
Hi Winn: Quite a question – When have you needed someone to come to your aid? We Americans like to live with our rugged independence. God has not called me to wealth; however, He has not caused me to want, so life has not been too needy in the material or physical. But life for a long time has been a rough ride in the marriage. Not to many offers for help there, and dragging stiff difficulties out for years is not a joyful ride. The advice I got from one believing friend is “you deserve to be happy too”. As soon as I heard those words I was shocked and disappointed. There must be many people in trouble quietly along side many roads looking for someone to help. Help did come, not in the form of human intervention, but my Father. I must expect that many find the best help from our Father, and I am so thankful for Him and for that. Slowly but surely God gave me new insights and peace from His word. For many years nothing changed in the details of the circumstance, but God changed me and years later my wife. Thanks Winn
sandy229 on May 25, 2017 at 9:00 am
Hi Gary, I can relate to this story. Many years ago when our marriage was rocky, someone said the same thing to me, “You deserve to be happy too”. I thought I was happy, but by them saying that, it led to many trials. If I had just depended on what God says, I would have saved myself a lot of misery. Sometimes people think that they have to fix everything, and there are some things only God can fix if we learn to depend on Him no matter what. I know this is easier said than done, but I also believe as we grow older we become wiser.
conmeo on May 25, 2017 at 9:18 am
Well put Sandy, Lord have us trust in You, the great fixer and let go while extending our hands in love!
sandy229 on May 25, 2017 at 8:52 am
I find it so amazing that God loves us in spite of ourselves. There is nothing we can ever do to earn God’s love. There’s nothing we can do to earn our salvation. God just keeps loving us no matter what.
Many years ago, a man came to our door at 3 a.m and said he had knocked on every door for quite a ways, but no one would help. He had gotten struck by a car, so we called 911, and help was on it’s way. Nowadays, it may not be the wisest thing to answer your door at 3 a.m.
One time we were stranded on a 100 mile stretch road, we broke down. We started walking back to the nearest town, which was 25 miles back. Our kids were about 4 and 5. Someone stopped finally and offered us a ride. They took us back to town, got someone to tow our car all the way back to where we were staying. God sent them to help us in our time of need.
conmeo on May 25, 2017 at 9:14 am
Hello Winn and fellow ODJers, As Gary said, quite the question. We all need others to come to our aide, what an excellent design our Lord made for us. Maybe not so much to pull us out of the “ditch” or as a stranded motorist but in the everyday journey we call life. Ah the great and wonderful Royal Law. Often it is to just take someone (each other) by the hand and walk along this thing called “Our Daily Journey”. What simple beauty we pass by each time we leave others behind. Relationships are often the most common place we pass by, be it our marriages, friends, partners, siblings, co-workers etc. all of which by the way, are our closest neighbors. The neighbors we are the closest to, see everyday, who often love us and we love them yet we cannot reconcile our differences following the example of our Father God who through The Sacred Blood of Jesus has reconciled us to Himself. Was it painful for the Father and the Son, silly question right. These relational challenges are painful for us as well particularly if we are accusing, angry, attacking, blaming; in other words hard hearted. Often that’s all we need to do, soften to the ways of our Lord. Forget what the other passers by think of us and know with absolute certainty, we can soften our hearts to the Love of Christ,… stop along the way…. and drink of the never ending fountain of love. May God’s Peace be with us all.
kibbee on May 25, 2017 at 8:45 pm
When have I needed someone to come to my aid? Countless times throughout my life. My life isn’t conventional. My survival is because of the aid offered.
What I do to show the Mercy God has shown me:
Service work in a 12 step program and a retreat for homeless woman; Witnessing that by the Grace of God and the help of the 12 step program along with cognitive behavior therapy my life has changed and sometimes I just listen.
Blessings