“But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii[c] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ “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.” (Luke 10:29-37 NIV)”
Usually when we refer to the “street life,” we do not think of anything good in the general sense. Well, this Saturday morning, I have presented you with the text above to ponder on and to let the Master speak to your heart about a lesson from the streets, the Jericho Road to be specific. But I also want to provide you with another good lesson from the streets. I just have to tell a story, right?
In the middle of the week, I went to a nearby fast-food restaurant to pick up some lunch. I went through the drive-thru lane without any problem. Cars were moving pretty steadily to the pick-up window. Ready to return home, I went through the lane usually reserved for food delivery drivers or for frustrated customers who are told to pull around to space number three. I know about that frustration because I hate to be told to pull around and my order will be brought out. Is hate too strong a word? Perhaps. Where’s my patience? Hmmm? Nevertheless, to continue the story, an account of a true happening, I went through the lane I just described and headed to the exit at the rear of the fast-food, hamburger restaurant. To my surprise, traffic was backed up. We were not moving. I looked ahead when I was able to inch forward and saw a man with one-leg, in a wheelchair, trying to navigate himself up a rough pavement, slight incline. I was ready to go push him, but before I could act, a man stopped his car on the curvy street adjacent to the restaurant, put on his blinker lights, and got out and pushed the man to the entry way. When I exited the restaurant driveway, the man’s car was still parked dangerously on the curvy street, and it could have been easily hit and damaged by an unsuspecting driver coming around the curve. This man was just as exposed to danger as the Samaritan in the story above. He was truly a Good Samaritan, and most certainly he knew the answer posed by Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
Our Saturday morning lesson: Be like the Good Samaritan when you have an opportunity. Be a good neighbor. Ethnicity, natural origin, churched or unchurched, will characterize the people we will see who fall into the category of “My neighbor.” Have a great Saturday. Oh, below is the context of the Good Samaritan story told by the Master. Be blessed!
“On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” He 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.’[” “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” (Luke 10:25-28 NIV)
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King