Luke 10:37  “The one who showed mercy to him,” he said. Then Jesus told him, “Go and do the same.” (CSB)

—

The Good Samaritan is one of Jesus’ parables even those who do not consider themselves religious know. Newscasters, politicians, and advertisers all use the imagery of the Good Samaritan when telling stories of kindness and generosity. 

What’s your story? 

When did a Good Samaritan help you along the way?   

In the days before cell phones, my car broke down late one night in the middle of nowhere. It stopped on the shoulder of the interstate highway about halfway between the town where my sweetheart lived and my hometown. There were no houses or businesses nearby. 

My car’s emergency flashers blinked for a long time and only managed to get people safely around and beyond me. Hope turned into anxiety. Anxiety gave way to borderline despair when, out of nowhere, an orange pickup drove straight toward me as if he were on a mission to find me.

The driver hopped out, asked what the problem was as he walked toward me, looked under the hood, and immediately diagnosed my problem while taking out his pocket knife and cutting the belt to the alternator. He jumpstarted my car and followed me all the way to my exit. 

There’s more to this story, but let’s save it for another day. 

I’m not sure how that story would have ended if that Good Samaritan had not shown up precisely when he did. 

Several memories come to mind regarding opportunities I’ve had to serve on the other end of situations like this. Things happen all the time giving us chances to provide necessary assistance in difficult circumstances. 

To live and love like Jesus, we need to take the initiative to help where help is help. Some people seek assistance that is not really helpful, and maybe even destructive. Other people will perish if we do not lend a helping hand. What is good help? Micah 6:8 is instructive:

No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good,
and this is what he requires of you:
to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
‭‭(‭New Living Translation)

Seize the initiative to do the right thing, the loving thing, the merciful thing, the thing Jesus himself would do if he were you.

You may hear a song, a sermon, or a sad lament on popular media, wondering why we can’t have the Christmas spirit all year long. When we live and love like Jesus, we can take the initiative to keep that spirit alive in all things at all times. You are the Good Samaritan someone needs today, and if not today, then sometime soon. 

Remember what Jesus said about Good Sam. “Go and do the same.”

—

I will be someone’s Good Samaritan as I learn to live and love like Jesus.

—

Our Father, empower me to do what is good, right, and merciful. Empower me to live in step with you. Empower me to see what you see and to do what you do. Amen.