Today's passage provides Jesus' answer to the lawyer from yesterday's daily. Jesus clearly identifies the heart of a neighbor. While this expert of the Jewish law was able to identify the key elements of the law--loving God with all that we are and loving our neighbor as ourselves--he missed how to apply it in his own life.

The question is not "Who is my neighbor?" but rather "To whom can I be a neighbor?"--being a neighbor to any in need. Jesus went out of His way to care for us when we could not care for ourselves, and He invites us to do likewise.

May the word of God cause us to see those around us in need of practical love, and move us from complacency to action in His name.

[Luke 10.30-37]

30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”

[ WHAT ] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that we learn?

+ What was the state of the man beset by robbers? [v. 30]

+ What was the response of the two religious people, the priest and the Levite? [vv. 31-32]

+ What was the response of the Samaritan? [v. 33]

+ What actions did the Samaritan take to aid the man? [vv. 34-35]

+ Did the Samaritan care for the man alone? [v. 35]

+ What did Jesus command the lawyer to do? [v. 37]

[ HOW ] is the Lord calling me to action/obedience?

+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?

+ When have you not mirrored Jesus' active, pursuing love of those in need, and instead turned a blind eye? What can you do differently to be neighborly like the Samaritan?

+ When people need more help than you can give, do you give up, or connect them with others who can help?

+ When someone asks for your support in helping others, as the Samaritan did of the innkeeper, what is your response? What should it be?

[ WHO ] am I walking with and praying for to discover Jesus?

+ What is my next step?