Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
October 11, 2023
Luke 10:25-37
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. Seek the opportunities that the day presents!
Who, indeed, is our neighbor? We are commanded to love our neighbor as ourselves. Once again, we find ourselves wanting to categorize things. When we set the categories, then we are in control. So, when we put labels and restrictions on the people of the world, we are trying to control the narrative.
Sure, we can take care of those that we label our neighbors. After all, they are similar to us, just down on their luck. They look like us and eat the same foods we eat. We know how to help them and tend to their needs.
The problem arises when someone outside our labeled group of neighbors needs help. How do we give food to someone with a totally different diet? How do we share a coat with someone who dresses so differently than we do? The problem is we first see what is on the surface of the person who stands before us. If we can peel away the outer coverings, then we will find the child of God hidden within the heart and soul of this stranger.
We are all children of God. God doesn’t label us and separate us from one another. That is a human convention. Jesus came to erase the labels and knock down our walls of distrust and fear so that we could love all our neighbors as ourselves. Only by the grace of God can we look inwardly and see the beauty that lies within each soul.
Awesome God, We love you! You see within us all that is lovely and pure. Help us to see as You do. Thank you. In the name of Christ, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: With an open spirit, I will look for someone who needs my loving care.
Look inwardly at others! Pastor Liz
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