A diabetic traveler named Snyder headed south on the
Overseas Highway. About ten miles south of Homestead, Florida, he reported, “I
had an attack and felt myself passing out. I knew I had better stop and wait
for help.” He clicked on his flashers and slowly faded into a diabetic coma
while hundreds of motorists raced by his parked car, sitting helplessly.
Eventually two men stopped long enough to rob him of
$150. Half an hour later, the robbers returned. Discovering their victim was
still without help, they added his watch and ring to their collection.
Hours later an anonymous lady stopped, but drove quickly
away when asked for help. A State Trooper quickly arrived, acknowledging that
an anonymous caller had reported a disabled motorist. An ambulance followed
shortly.
Snyder later offered “sincere thanks” to the anonymous
caller, admitting he might have been reluctant to stop and help someone in the
past. “I think I’d be different now,” he confessed, “I would stop and do what I
could.”
Unimaginable challenges dot our landscapes. We can work
for people’s best interests, or we can take advantage of them. We can also turn
our backs on them, but it is our call. In Snyder’s case, thieves took
advantage.
The Good Samaritan models the option Jesus would have us
follow (Luke 10). Admittedly risky, the good we can achieve readily outweighs
most potential risks. We meet the Good Samaritan following a “hands on”
training experience in which Jesus sent seventy witnesses into neighboring
towns and villages to preach and teach.
They travelled two by two. After seeing people’s lives
changed, and after experiencing God’s Amazing Grace, they returned buzzing like
Bees. Jesus praised them for their efforts and reminded them that prophets and
kings had waited to see what they had just experienced (23-24).
This unfolding drama prompted a distrustful but
inquisitive lawyer to enquire as to how he might become a disciple. Whatever
his motivation; he felt their joy. Jesus, sensing his hunger, drilled straight
to the bottom of the well: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart … soul …
strength, and … mind; and your neighbor as yourself“ (Luke 10:27, NASV).
Feeling vulnerable and “wishing to justify himself, the
Lawyer pressed Jesus: “And who is my neighbor?
Jesus responded by describing how robbers mugged a
certain business traveler. Two church members found the victim in great need,
but ignored him. They were busy being faithful!
Admittedly, the Samaritan had nothing to lose; he was
racially-mixed and ethnically segregated. He was a racial and religious
outsider, but familiar with life around the edges. He took the risk by doing
what the “blue bloods” dared not do - offer help.
Jesus praised this risk-taker from society’s outer
fringes with an unqualified endorsement. “Which one of these three,” He
demanded, “do you think was a neighbor” to the victim?
The lawyer readily agreed the politically incorrect
Samaritan showed the most mercy. With that, Jesus declared “Go and do what he
did” (Luke 10:37, NCV).1 This simple no-frills command reveals the
heart of Jesus. It could correct the course of human history, if we would
practice it.
The Priest and the Levite avoided this discomfort and
ignored both offenders and victim. The ostracized Samaritan took great personal
risk, but did what he could.
So: “Who is our neighbor? And, what kind of neighbors
will we be?” Only at the foot of that old rugged cross is there
place sufficient to allow human needs to intersect with God’s Saving Grace.
Nancy Nearing was a working mother with two children.
When she learned her boss of six years was about to lose his kidneys to a
genetic disease; she chose to intentionally give life rather than simply fret
and wring her hands. She concluded, “I had a choice.”
This forty-two year-old Virginia technical writer worked
with a team of computer programmers headed by Art Helms. As Helms’ friend and
employee, she became his life-giving Samaritan by donating a kidney!
She gave her boss life. Most importantly, Nancy Nearing
modeled a behavior consistent with the Great commandment of Jesus. He challenges us to choose between becoming Good Samaritans and become healers, or walk by on the opposite side of the street.
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1
Quoted from The Holy Bible, New Century Version, copyright 1987, 1988, 1991 by
Word Publishing, Dallas, Texas 75039. Used by permission.
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I am walkingwithwarner.blogsot.com
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