Watching The World From The Other Side Of The Road.

 "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." - Luke 10:30-33

Are you distressed by the apparent escalation of evil today? The disregard for human life that seems rampant all over this world. The lack of direct involvement because those not affected don't want their world to be disrupted? Looking at those tragedies from the other side of the road. Like you, I have been watching it on television and reading about so many places where lives are being turned upside down - or worse lost. I am reminded of the the parable of the Good Samaritan.  Recall, Jesus shared the parable in response to a question.

"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?'" - Luke 10:25-29

Jesus seeing his heart knew that the lawyer did not consider those like the man in the ditch his neighbor and worthy of his personal sacrifice.

"Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends." - John 15:13

The man in the ditch was a Jew just like the lawyer - so it was not like he was someone of another race or living in another country. He might have lived next door or in the same neighborhood. He was ignored by the very ones who, because of their "declared" faith should have been the first to help. But, instead, it was a Samaritan - someone despised by the Jews. 

So the question that we are faced with is this. Are we willing to be a neighbor? Jesus asked the lawyer - 

"'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.'" - Luke 10:36-37

And Jesus is saying the same thing to Christians today.

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone