Contagious Characteristics: CompassionSample

Suppose you met a famous teacher (rabbi) like Jesus, or even Jesus Himself, and you could ask one question. What would the question be?

In the story that we know as 'The Good Samaritan', there was a teacher of the law who asked Jesus, "what must I do to have eternal life?" In response, Jesus shares with him the greatest two commandments in the bible: to love God, and to love our neighbor (Matthew 22:36-40). After hearing Jesus' first response, the teacher asks another question, "who is my neighbor?'

The teacher of the law wanted to show that he had kept the law. Because he was an expert on the law, it is safe to say that he assumed that he was also an expert in fulfilling and obeying it. He believed that he loved all of his neighbors and that no one could accuse him otherwise, because he loved those who lived in the same community, attended the same church, and who were of the same race/ethnicity as him. However, in this story, Jesus challenged the man by revealing that our neighbor is not necessarily the person we like, but the person who is in need.

To love God is to love our neighbor, and to love our neighbor is to love those we prefer to love and those who we do not prefer to love. Love is a contagious characteristic of God, and because He loved us as His enemies, we are to love our enemies as well (Romans 5:8).

Let's pray. "Lord, thank you for loving me. Help me to love as you have loved me. Show me those who I deem are unworthy of my love and give me opportunities to spread your love today. In Jesus' name, amen."

Reflection Questions:

1. What are the greatest two commandments? (Matthew 22:36-40)

2. What do you think eternal life means? (John 17:3, John 5:24)

3. According to Luke 10:28, what is most important to Jesus - what a person knows, what a person does, or how a person shows love?