Luke 10:25-37

It is a lawyer, an expert in the Law, that asks the question, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"   He knew the answer already, but he was testing Jesus.  They both agreed that the vital commandments are  " You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength , and with all you mind. and your neighbor as yourself."

But, the lawyer was not quite satisfied that this was sufficient.. he had another question, "And who is my neighbor?"  

He thought he knew the answer to this too.. but, he was probably not prepared for the answer that Jesus gave him.  The story of the good Samaritan is well known.
One man beaten and left for dead.
One priest unwilling to stop and help.
One Levite also unwilling to stop and help.
One Samaritan man... "felt compassion".. came.. bandaged. him ... brought him to an inn, paid for his care, and even promised to pay anything else owed.

Jesus said "Which of these three proved to be a neighbor...?"  Who acted as a friend, a countryman.. a fellow human being?  The lawyer knew this answer too.. "The one who showed mercy toward him." 

Jesus said to him, "Go and do the same." 

Who is our neighbor?  It is the one who we can be a neighbor to.. anyone who needs compassion.. and we know that everyone needs compassion...

"Go and do the same." Jesus said.  And His message has not changed.  Love God and love others.

John, the apostle, wrote about this love.. this love that starts with loving God and continues with loving others.  " Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love."  ( I John 4:7-8)   He goes on to add.. " We love because He first loved us. If someone says, 'I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.  And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also."  ( I John 4:19-21) 

Perhaps we find it too easy to say we love God and others. The lawyer probably did.. at first.  But, would he have stopped and helped the beaten man?  Would he "love his neighbor"?   Did he go away convicted?  Did Jesus' words bring him to repent of his lack of love?

How does this speak to us?  John also wrote, "Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and in truth."  

Father in heaven, fill us with Your holy love, that we might love You with all of our being and also love others.  May we really see those who are in need and commit ourselves to care for them.  Give us hearts of compassion for others and cast out our fears and worries, for we have become hardened by this world and skeptical of others. Move us by Your Spirit who indwells us as we submit ourselves to Your will once again.  May You be praised and glorified in our lives as we walk in Your light and love.  We pray in Jesus' name, amen.