LISTEN ONLINEOne winter day, a delivery man noticed an elderly woman shovelling snow off her driveway. He stopped and convinced the eighty-one-year-old to let him finish the job. Concerned that he’d be late delivering his other packages, she retrieved another shovel. They worked side by side for almost fifteen minutes as her neighbours watched from afar. “I’m thankful you helped me,” she said. “You’re God-sent.”
During a conversation with an expert in the law, Jesus redefined the concept of loving our neighbours (Luke 10:25-37). When Jesus asked him to interpret the law he knew so well, the expert said, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’ ” (v. 27).
Then Jesus shared a story about two religious leaders who ignored a robbery victim. But a Samaritan—a person most Jewish leaders in those days considered inferior—sacrificed to help the man in need (vv. 30-35). When the expert of the law realised that the one who had mercy on the man had loved like a neighbour, Jesus encouraged him to do likewise (vv. 36-37).
Loving others isn’t always easy or convenient. But as Jesus overwhelms us with His love, He’ll help us love all our neighbours like the Good Samaritan did.