Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10). "How do you read it?" Jesus simply tells us to ‘love God, and love our neighbors.’ / Sitemap, User Experience Design by Five Q Some don't even care to know. And, as we learn from Ephesians 2:8-10, being saved by God’s grace motivates us to do good and show God’s love to others. 33But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. Loving Neighbors. He knew the scriptures said to love God with all his heart, soul, strength and mind; and also love his neighbour as himself. How does it read to you?”. / Privacy Policy Web Development by Build For Humans. But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbor?’” Luke 10:27-29 (ESV) I was a 10-year-old girl sporting a neon windbreaker and a perm when I received the greatest news of my life: winning my first solo in the church musical. July 10, 2016 Jessica Mesman Griffith Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Terms of Use Please invite your friends to like my page so they can receive encouragement from God’s Word too. The lawyer, who asked Jesus this question, started off wanting to know how he could inherit eternal life. Redefining “Kingdom”, Daniel 7:9-14 The good Samaritan doesn't do everything; he just does what he can. Devotion topics: Life, — Luke 10:29, An expert in the law wanted to cover every detail to justify himself. The story of the Good Samaritan is … He wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?" After all, it is part of the call given to us in the second greatest commandment to “Love thy neighbor.” The problem lies not in the question, but in our reason for asking. Canada Toll-Free: 800.263.4251, © 1950–2020 ReFrame Media. According to Christ's story of the Good Samaritan, all those are our neighbors who are in need of our help. Matthew 5:43-44 – You have heard that it was said, "You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy." Redefining “King”, John 18:36-38 A. Scripture Reading — Luke 10:25-37. But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. 28"You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. Love, Toll-Free: 800.626.3060, Canada: 905.336.2920 Both Old Testament and New Testament verses instruct us, most widely known within the parable of … / Sitemap, User Experience Design by Five Q As you may or may not have noticed, the world is not doing great. Christian Life, An expert in the law wanted to cover every detail to justify himself. Service, See God's love and power, his presence and purpose in your life everyday, John 18:28-36 He knew he had to love God first and to love his neighbor as himself. Yesterday we saw that Christians need to get close enough to see the needs around them and to respond. He even refers to himself as “the disciple whom … Wishing to justify himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”. He wanted to be sure he could inherit eternal life. I just want to ask the question, "Who is my neighbor?" How can we thank you? And Jesus pressed the point home: “Go and do likewise.” Would the man’s faith now move him to be a good neighbor? Missions, See God's love and power, his presence and purpose in your life everyday, John 18:28-36 He doesn't start a relief agency to help all mugging victims. He knew he had to love God first and to love his neighbor as himself. 28"You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. But now he had one more question for Jesus: “Who is my neighbor?”. Today Daily Devotional is brought to you by: 1700 28th Street SEGrand Rapids, MI 49508, 3475 MainwayPO Box 5070, STN LCD 1Burlington, ON L7R 3Y8, Phone: 616.942.9383 "Do this and you will live." Often they're so overwhelming that we don't know where to start. he replied. He doesn't lobby the county to make the road safer. Redefining “Kingdom”, Daniel 7:9-14 All rights reserved. Who is my neighbor? 27He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’.” Notice: there is no qualification to only love people who believe like you, live like you, attend the same school as you, work in the same field as you, etc. 35The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. He wanted to be sure he could inherit eternal life. Luke 10:29 (NKJV): "But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, "and who is my neighbor?"" It can also be a most embarrassing one. 25On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. Web Development by Build For Humans. Keep us from holding back our love. Being the Church, Most people don't know the names of all who live in their immediate neighborhood. Pretty simple question. Some volunteer time helping with disaster relief and doing something to help others in desperate need. For many of us, though, that's a big step. So we need simply to take the next step. 26"What is written in the Law?" 34He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Dark Devotional: Who is My Neighbor? I will randomly pick one person tomorrow (May 3, 2014) who has liked my page. He wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?" Lord, help me to take a step closer to show your love to my neighbor today. "Do this and you will live." That is a good question. Who is My Neighbor? What do you want us to do in your name today, Lord? He doesn't even cancel his business trip. But in the end, Jesus says the Samaritan who helped his man "proved to be the neighbor" (Luke 12:36–37). Terms of Use 32So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. This can be at school, at home, at church, etc. Two travelers—a priest and a Levite—do not have the time or the inclination to help the beaten man, so they pass by. Discipleship, Jesus uses great restraint in telling this story. That next step can help define who your neighbor really is. 29But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" Redefining “King”, John 18:36-38 Pastor and writer John Ortberg states one of the strongest features of the story of the good Samaritan is in what the Samaritan doesn't do. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’.” Notice: there is no qualification to only love people who believe like you, live like you, attend the same school as you, work in the same field as you, etc. Luke 10:29 (NKJV): "But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, "and who is my neighbor?"" Are there limits on our love? You have provided all we need. "Love your neighbor as yourself." 27He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" He doesn't have the mugging victim move in with him. Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise." 36"Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" Laurie. Luke 10:34. Many faithful followers of Jesus are doing that every day in many communities. (ESV) As the tour bus wound through the Galilean countryside into the Golan Heights, our guide pointed out the bright yellow signs posted on wire fences along the road: Danger! Coming Soon: The Return of the King. In your name, Amen. The neighbor is the object, the one of whom the three other characters encounter. Some tutor children. In fact, Jesus answers this question in Luke 10. November 9, 2020 – Daily Devotional “Which of these three, do you think, proved neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed mercy on him.” And Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.” –Luke 10:36-37. All rights reserved. The impressive thing about the Samaritan was that the Jews despised his people and treated them with contempt. Becoming a neighbor means identifying with the concerns, struggles, and needs of people around you. The legal expert got the point. But a Samaritan, whom most Jewish people would avoid (John 4:9), stops to help without questions or conditions. Reinforce to your kids that your neighbor can be anyone around you who needs help, needs a friend, or needs you to pray for them. 37The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Who Is My Neighbor? The Glory of the Son of Man, Mark 10:35-45 The legal expert asked the right person, because someday Jesus will judge everyone according to the way they have served others for his sake (Matthew 25:31-46).