TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL PASSAGE

DEVOTIONAL

by Elder Chris Beltran

   We all are very familiar with this parable wherein the priest and the Levite all went their own way; only the Samaritan, a hated enemy of the Jews, stopped and helped the injured Jew and nursed him back to health, using his own resources. He showed sincere love for the person, resulting in action by applying first aid, bringing the wounded man to the inn, leaving money for the care of the man, and not expecting a return. 

    The question the priest and the Levite were asking was, “what would happen to me if I stopped and helped?” But the question the Samaritan was asking was, “what would happen to the man if I do not stop and help him?” One was thinking about himself, while the other was thinking about others. 

          While it is easy to make judgment calls on the attitude of the priest and Levite, which is self-centered, if we take a closer look at ourselves, their dilemma is also our dilemma. Every day, we must face the question of serving ourselves or serving others.

         For example, we witness an accident, a crime victim, or just a beggar knocking on our car windows. Or even when our own church member experiences a death in the family, if we do not know the person quite well, we would just type a simple, “Our deepest condolences” without any other action. Sometimes, we would blame others, why no one is extending help, where are the pastors, but often like the priest and the Levite, we just drove away, not wanting to inconvenience ourselves. Our love for others has grown cold, and we can justify that we do not want to be fooled, especially with the beggars. 

            We find this compassion on display in Genesis 45. In the midst of famine, Joseph’s brothers returned to Egypt seeking food. Recall that they sold him into slavery some seventeen years earlier (Genesis 37:28). Now, he was prime minister of the most powerful nation in the world, second only to the pharaoh himself. His brothers’ lives were in his hands. For their crimes, he could easily and justifiably have ordered their execution. Instead, he arranged for them and their families to join him in Egypt, where they would live under his protection and provision.

     Are we “good samaritans”? Or are we like the priest and Levite, full of self-righteousness, full of doctrine, yet walk the other way when the need arises? Or do we value others as we value ourselves?  

       Let’s learn a lesson from Joseph and the Good Samaritan. When we treat with kindness those who do not deserve to be treated well, God blesses our compassion. And we manifest the character of Christ, who “came not to be served but to serve” (Mark 10:45).

REFLECTION

Dr. Schweitzer once told his graduating students, “I don’t know what your destiny will be. Some of you will perhaps occupy remarkable positions. Perhaps some of you will become famous by your pens, or as artists. But I know one thing: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve.” Now, do you really want to be happy?

PRAYER

Lord, there are so many situations in my life that I have placed myself above You and above others. I am reminded that whoever wants to follow You must deny himself, take up our cross and then follow You. Often I declare that I’m Your follower, but looking closer, I have been following my own self and will. Forgive me, Lord. Please make me a person that is fully committed to following You, to treat others with kindness, especially to those who we deem undeserving. In Jesus’ name, Amen.