The Jews and the Samaritans did not get along. The Jews avoided the Samaritans like they avoided anyone whom they deemed ‘unclean’.
So when this Jewish man fell on hard times, he must have been surprised when the respected Jewish priest and Levite ignored him and crossed the street to avoid him but the Samaritan demonstrated brotherly kindness.
Today, I am pondering that story from the Samaritan’s point of view. How would I react if I saw someone who under normal circumstances would avoid touching me, who would cross the street to avoid me, hurt and in need? Would I cross the street to help him? Would I care for him in his time of need knowing that he probably would not do that for me? As a matter of fact, if the tables were turned he most likely would have declared my misfortune was a judgment from God. Could I love like this Samaritan?
Jesus commands us to love like this Samaritan. Love not only those who agree with us, look like us, think like us, vote like us but love those who may avoid us, despise us, disagree with us.
Now, if you are reading this and thinking, “yeah Melissa, you tell those (fill in the blank)”. Stop and remember in one way or the other, we are each the Samaritan in this story. We each make the choice everyday if we are going to demonstrate love to someone with whom we may disagree, someone with whom we may see as a threat, someone who judges us unfairly or think we are undeserving of human kindness. Everyday we get to choose to love like this Samaritan
Last night, we paused and asked God, “What was his dream for us.” His response to me was life altering. He said simply this, “Carry my love.” I think that is a word for each of His children.
Let us carry his love as we go to work, as we go to the grocery store, as we post on Facebook, as we tweet and retweet. Carry His love to those with whom we disagree, those who look differently, those who are self-righteous, and those who are struggling with sin. Be the Samaritan and Carry His Love everywhere you go to everyone you encounter.
“So, now, tell me, which one of the three men who saw the wounded man proved to be the true neighbor?” The religious scholar responded, “The one who demonstrated kindness and mercy.” Jesus said, “You must go and do the same as he.””
Luke 10:36-37 TPT