In what ways can we avoid being like the priest in Luke 10:31? The Scene in Luke 10:31 “Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.” (Luke 10:31) Spotting the Priest’s Missteps • Saw but did not stop – awareness without action • Valued ritual purity over mercy – self-protection trumped love • Chose distance – crossed to the “other side” to stay uninvolved • Failed to mirror God’s heart – ignored a neighbor in urgent need Practical Steps to Choose Compassion • Slow down enough to notice people instead of hurrying past • Keep margin in schedules and budgets so interruptions can be welcomed • Carry simple resources (bottled water, gift cards, phone numbers for shelters) to meet immediate needs • Serve locally with ministries that confront suffering; familiarity dissolves fear Guarding Our Hearts from Indifference • Pray daily for a soft, responsive heart (Ezekiel 36:26) • Confess any prejudice or apathy the moment it surfaces (1 John 1:9) • Remember our own rescue by Christ; gratitude fuels mercy (Titus 3:3-5) Walking in Christ’s Example • Jesus “had compassion on them” and acted (Matthew 14:14) • He touched the untouchable leper (Mark 1:41) • He crossed cultural lines for the Samaritan woman (John 4:7-10) Following Him leaves no room for priest-like detachment. Scriptures to Keep Us Tender • “But whoever has this world’s goods and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?” (1 John 3:17) • “Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” (James 2:17) • “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.” (Matthew 25:40) • “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who belong to the household of faith.” (Galatians 6:10) Putting It into Practice Today • Greet and learn the name of the overlooked person at work or church • Keep an emergency benevolence envelope in your wallet • Volunteer a regular hour with a crisis-pregnancy center, soup kitchen, or jail ministry • Invite a lonely neighbor for dinner this week • When confronted with need, decide to “cross the road toward,” not away |
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