Liz’s Morning Devotional based upon Upper Room
February 3, 2022
Read Luke 10:25-35
25 A legal expert stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to gain eternal life?” 26 Jesus replied, “What is written in the Law? How do you interpret it?” 27 He responded, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.” 28 Jesus said to him, “You have answered correctly. Do this and you will live.” 29 But the legal expert wanted to prove that he was right, so he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus replied, “A man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. He encountered thieves, who stripped him naked, beat him up, and left him near death. 31 Now it just so happened that a priest was also going down the same road. When he saw the injured man, he crossed over to the other side of the road and went on his way. 32 Likewise, a Levite came by that spot, saw the injured man, and crossed over to the other side of the road and went on his way. 33 A Samaritan, who was on a journey, came to where the man was. But when he saw him, he was moved with compassion. 34 The Samaritan went to him and bandaged his wounds, tending them with oil and wine. Then he placed the wounded man on his own donkey, took him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 The next day, he took two full days’ worth of wages and gave them to the innkeeper. He said, ‘Take care of him, and when I return, I will pay you back for any additional costs.’ 36 What do you think? Which one of these three was a neighbor to the man who encountered thieves?” 37 Then the legal expert said, “The one who demonstrated mercy toward him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
Good Morning! Love your neighbor as yourself!
This morning I am listening to the rain as it gently falls around me. Perhaps, the snow will finally be melted away through the rain and warmer temperatures. I like how rain clears away the dirt and grime from my pathway signifying a fresh start.
Sometimes I feel a need to assess myself in regards to my faith journey. Whenever I have read this passage, I feel compelled to ask myself, what would I do in that situation? Jesus tells us to go and do as the Samatian did in the story. This can be a tough request.
Our society can be a dark and scary place with evil lurking around every corner. How do we fulfill our calling to love our neighbors and to care for one another? When we were children, we could play outside for hours with little or no supervision and never fear for our safety. This is sadly no longer true. We read of children who are abducted and hurt even when they are in their own yards. We also see new stories of innocent victims of violence every day. Again, it is a tough request.
I don’t have the answer. We must rely on God to lead us where we need to go, and through God’s grace and mercy, we will be protected. Through God’s strength, we will give of ourselves to others in need and continue to mature in our faith so that we can become like Jesus and love one another.
Loving God, Thank You for loving us. We need your help with loving our neighbors. Our world is in turmoil and we often fear for our safety when we see our brothers and sisters who need help. Show us Your way. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: Today I will follow Jesus’ commandment to love my neighbor.
Share the love of Christ! Pastor Liz
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