THE GOOD SAMARITAN
Neal Pollard
Neal Pollard
The story begins pathetically. An unwanted, abandoned dog is left along the side of the interstate. It is hit twice by passing motorists and even shot with buckshot. Cold and starving, the dog's chances of survival are quickly diminishing. Then, an unidentified woman driver picks up the dog. She takes it to a care shelter there, paying for its expenses. Apparently, she is a nurse and her compassion influenced even her choice of career. Fortunately, the dog had no broken bones or fractures, and it was quickly adopted.
What a heartwarming story! Such compassion for one of God's creatures is worthy of imitation. It tugs at our heartstrings. A hurting, defenseless canine. A sacrificial person in the midst of less admirable folks who neglected and even actively harmed the dog.
Jesus is the master teacher. He taught a story of a man, beaten and left beside the road. Robbers actively harmed him. Others, though knowing better, neglected him. One, "the good Samaritan," rescued him at great personal price. Jesus implicitly condemns the thieves and the negligent ones. He likewise praises the rescuer.
There are people who have been beaten by sin problems and are spiritually dying. We pass them in the hall and the mall, at work and on the way. Upon many of these we bear no influence. On some, we do. Wherever possible, ignoring the personal cost, we must help.
There are people who have been beaten by sorrow who are languishing in despair. They may be in our physical family or church family. They may be our friends from work or school. Our attention, our compassion, and the wisdom from God's Word are all salve that can comfort them.
There are people who have been beaten by problems who are just hanging on. They may not see the need to keep going. You can spell the difference by helping lift them out of their ditch of despair. Proverbs 25:11 reminds us, "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver." Maybe some troubled soul needs a healthy word from you.
We can see, smell and pet a dog. Physical assistance like that in the sweet story above captures our hearts more easily. It's tangible. Yet, the potential good we can do by aiding the soul, spirit, or heart of another far transcends what can be empirically measured by our senses. It could make an eternal impact. Do a "good Samaritan" thing today!
What a heartwarming story! Such compassion for one of God's creatures is worthy of imitation. It tugs at our heartstrings. A hurting, defenseless canine. A sacrificial person in the midst of less admirable folks who neglected and even actively harmed the dog.
Jesus is the master teacher. He taught a story of a man, beaten and left beside the road. Robbers actively harmed him. Others, though knowing better, neglected him. One, "the good Samaritan," rescued him at great personal price. Jesus implicitly condemns the thieves and the negligent ones. He likewise praises the rescuer.
There are people who have been beaten by sin problems and are spiritually dying. We pass them in the hall and the mall, at work and on the way. Upon many of these we bear no influence. On some, we do. Wherever possible, ignoring the personal cost, we must help.
There are people who have been beaten by sorrow who are languishing in despair. They may be in our physical family or church family. They may be our friends from work or school. Our attention, our compassion, and the wisdom from God's Word are all salve that can comfort them.
There are people who have been beaten by problems who are just hanging on. They may not see the need to keep going. You can spell the difference by helping lift them out of their ditch of despair. Proverbs 25:11 reminds us, "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver." Maybe some troubled soul needs a healthy word from you.
We can see, smell and pet a dog. Physical assistance like that in the sweet story above captures our hearts more easily. It's tangible. Yet, the potential good we can do by aiding the soul, spirit, or heart of another far transcends what can be empirically measured by our senses. It could make an eternal impact. Do a "good Samaritan" thing today!
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