In what ways can we avoid being like those who ignored the injured man? Seeing the Scene “Jesus took up this question and said, ‘A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead.’ ” – Luke 10:30 Why the Priest and Levite Walked Past • Religion without compassion—ritual outweighed mercy (Luke 10:31-32) • Fear of personal risk or inconvenience • Possible concern for ceremonial purity (Numbers 19:11-13) • A busy schedule that excused indifference Choosing a Different Path 1. Keep eyes open for suffering • “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Your law.” – Psalm 119:18 • Ask the Spirit to alert you to needs you normally overlook. 2. Let compassion interrupt plans • “Do not withhold good from the deserving when it is within your power to act.” – Proverbs 3:27 • Margin in time and budget makes spontaneous mercy possible. 3. Act immediately, not theoretically • “If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacks daily food, and one of you says, ‘Go in peace,’ … what good is that?” – James 2:15-16 • Small, prompt deeds beat big, postponed intentions. 4. Absorb the cost • The Samaritan paid two denarii and promised more (Luke 10:35). • Remember 2 Corinthians 8:9—Christ’s poverty made us rich; we can afford sacrificial kindness. 5. Cross social boundaries • Jews and Samaritans were hostile; love overrides prejudice (Galatians 3:28). • Serve those outside your circle; charity that costs reputation honors Christ. Guardrails Against Excuses • Pre-schedule regular service (food pantry, visitation) so help becomes habit. • Carry a modest “mercy fund” for spontaneous giving. • Travel with basic supplies—bottle of water, snack bar, first-aid kit—to meet immediate needs. • Keep a list of community resources (shelters, counseling hotlines) on your phone. • Invite accountability: share stories of mercy with a trusted friend or small group. Scripture Connections That Reinforce the Call • Matthew 25:35-40—Serving the “least of these” serves Christ Himself. • 1 John 3:17-18—Real love is “not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” • Isaiah 58:6-7—True worship loosens bonds of wickedness and shelters the homeless. • Galatians 6:9-10—“Let us not grow weary in well-doing… do good to all.” A Daily Pattern of Mercy • Begin the day: “Lord, send someone across my path to love.” • Stay interruptible: view delays as divine appointments. • Evaluate each evening: “Where did I stop, and where did I pass by?” • Celebrate every act of mercy, no matter how small—it trains the heart for larger sacrifices. Living the Lesson Today Avoiding the priest-and-Levite mindset means seeing people, letting compassion trump convenience, and stepping in at personal cost. Christ’s own rescue of us energizes our rescue of others, turning every road into an opportunity for neighbor-love. |
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