Warriors Arise: October 5, 2023
Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful,
For they shall obtain mercy.
I was thinking all day about another example of compassion, one moved to do something because of the need before him.
Luke 10:25-37 The Parable of the Good Samaritan
25 And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
26 He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?”
27 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.’ ”
28 And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.”
29 But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
30 Then Jesus answered and said: “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. 31 Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’ 36 So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?”
37 And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.”
Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
Jesus is telling this to the Jews. They do not like the Samaritans. Let's call it was it is. It is a race issue. Jesus is breaking down the walls of racism. We are to be merciful to our neighbors. In turn, the Lord will make sure we receive mercy.
It is so easy to judge others. The odd part of this parable is that the man's own people and priest would not help him. Maybe they were afraid the robbers where nearby so they wanted to hurry along, but that doesn't give them a qualified excuse to leave the man by the roadside. He needed help. He needed their help, but they chose to turn their nose up, look away and hurry past the man in dire need.
How many times are we in a hurry to get somewhere and miss the opportunity to extend mercy, to be compassionate toward someone. Some may go to the extreme of showing mercy to those they don't know because they have such judgement toward the people they do know.
Have you ever thought of that before? When reading this parable, did the people who might have known the man, passed him by because they knew him? So, it took someone who didn't know him, to show mercy. The Samaritan didn't know this man, he just knew he needed help. Are there times when you can be more helpful, kind and generous toward someone you don't know but not to the one you know?
We are to be merciful to those we know and those we don't know. What they have done or not done in their past should not disqualify them from being shown mercy or compassion.
Father, I ask for You to come and minister Your divine wisdom, mercy and compassion upon me. I want to know these characteristics of You and respond in kind. I desire to see the God-oporutnity and to seize it. Whether I know them or not, I want to reach out and help them. Open my eyes and let me see each one You have place along my path that I can help. I pray I would represent You well and be willing to fully see to their needs in Jesus' name amen
A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,
Veridee Joy Hand
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