The Good SamaritanSample

"Go and Do Likewise" In a reversal from the beginning of the story, Jesus now asks the lawyer, “Who is the neighbor?” The answer is the person who showed mercy, and the person is a Samaritan. In general, Jews and Samaritans reviled each other. This could not have been an easy answer for the lawyer (a Jew) to accept. Think about a person with a lifestyle, political stance, and religion severely different than yours. What if you were in desperate need and everyone passed by except for that person? What if he or she stopped and showed you the compassion of the Samaritan? Would that change you? Mercy breaks down walls. It’s powerful, and we are told to make it a priority. Jesus didn’t then say to the lawyer, “Good answer. Now sit back and relax.” He said, “Go and do likewise.” Similarly, in Matthew 9:13, Jesus said, “But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” Going out and showing mercy is what we have to offer the world. It changes lives—ours included—and opens eyes to the Gospel. God bestowed upon us the greatest mercy of all in the salvation of Jesus Christ. It was unmerited, unthinkable, and eternally beautiful. Now, out of gratitude, we get to go and do acts of mercy in His Name. “May his name endure forever, his fame continue as long as the sun! May people be blessed in him, all nations call him blessed!” (Psalm 72:14) Thank you for spending these five days reading through the Good Samaritan story with us at Samaritan's Purse. God allows our ministry to partner with brothers and sisters to show mercy to millions of people around the world in the Name of Christ. We pray that your heart would be sensitive to His calling to love your neighbors near and far. God bless you as you go and do His work.