Jesus is Essential
Luke 10:34–37: So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’ So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?” And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
The world today is like the man that fell among thieves and needs our help. The world needs Christ. Christ can not only rescue us from drowning, but He can teach us to swim. Ritualism and formalism see mankind drowning and say, “Swim, brother, swim.” But man cannot swim.
Legalism and liberalism push across toward man and say, “Hang on, brother, hang on.” But man cannot hang on. There is a song which says, “I was sinking deep in sin far from the peaceful shore, very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more; but the Master of the sea heard my despairing cry, from the waters lifted me, now safe am I.” Christ lifted me, my friend, and He can lift you too. That is the message of the Good Samaritan. 1
Walking with Jesus
The church takes care of the needs of people everyday. The ministers do a lot of bandaging that most people know very little about. Do you generously support the ministry? The needs are great, but many times the support is weak. There are many ways that you can be a Good Samaritan with your time and with your treasures.
He who despises his neighbor sins; But he who has mercy on the poor, happy is he. Proverbs 14:21
The Good Samaritan was good because he showed the goodness of God.
Praying
Lord, make me a good Samaritan in my home, church, and city.
1. McGee, J. V. (1991). Thru the Bible commentary: The Gospels (Luke) (electronic ed., Vol. 37). Nashville.
