Daily Devotion

The road from Jerusalem to Jericho was notoriously dangerous. It was narrow, rocky and with sudden turns that made it the happy hunting ground for thieves. In the 5^th century, Jerome tells that it was still called "The Red, or Bloody Way." In the 19^th century, it was still necessary to pay safety money to the local Sheiks before one could travel on it.

 

When Jesus told this story, he was telling about the kind of thing that was constantly happening on the Jerusalem to Jericho road.

There are four characters in this story. Are you ready to meet them?

(1^st) the traveler; people seldom traveled this road alone if they were carrying goods or valuables. This man may have been ignorant of the crime on this road and had no one to blame for the mess he found himself in. (2^nd) the priest: he hurried past because he knew that if he touched a dead person he was unclean and could not serve in the temple for seven days. He set the ceremonial claims above those of charity. The Temple and its liturgy meant more to him than the pain of the man. (3^rd) the Levite; he was a man whose motto must have been "safety first." He would take no risk to help anyone.   (4^th) theSamaritan. Was it possible that the listeners expected that the villain had arrived? The Jews had no dealings with the Samaritans, and yet this man seems to have been a kind of commercial traveler and a regular visitor at the inn.   We note two things about this man: 1^st His credit is good! The innkeeper was prepared to trust him. He was an honest man. 2^nd He alone was prepared to help.   Whatever else, the love of God was in his heart. In the end, we will be judged not by the creed we hold but by the life we live.

 

Jesus gives three answers to the question, "Who is my neighbor?" (1^st) we must help a person even when he brought his trouble on himself. (2^nd) Any person in any nation who is in need is our neighbor. Our help must be as wide as the love of God. (3^rd) The help must be practical and not consist merely of feeling sorry. Compassion, to be real, must issue in deeds.

 

Life Application: Answer this question you ask yourself, "Am I a willing helper or one who doesn't see the need?

 

Praise/Prayer: Dear Father. I am so very thankful for all the people who I knew and people that I didn't know who were willing to help me.   I cannot but offer to help others.   There were so many times when I didn't know where I was, and someone came by and gave me the help I needed. Holy Spirit, help me to be the helper that someone else may need. I can't help but feel that You allow us to get into a need just so we can show the love of being thankful. Amen!