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DAILY DEVOTIONAL – Sunday, May 8, 2016
Today’s scripture reading:
From the illustration we learn three principles about loving our neighbor: (1) Lack of love is often easy to justify, even though it is never right; (2) our neighbor is anyone of any race, creed, or social background who is in need; and (3) love means acting to meet the person’s need. Wherever you live, there are needy people close by. There is no good reason for refusing to help. (NLT)
Luke 10:25-37 – One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what must I do to receive eternal life?”
Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?”
The man answered, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
“Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!”
The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
Jesus replied with an illustration: “A Jewish man was traveling on a trip from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes and money, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road.
“By chance a Jewish priest came along; but when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side.
“Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt deep pity. Kneeling beside him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with medicine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. The next day he handed the innkeeper two pieces of silver and told him to take care of the man. ‘If his bill runs higher than that,’ he said, ‘I’ll pay the difference the next time I am here.’
“Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked.
The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.”
Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”
Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. – Galatians 6:2 (NRSV)
Sara Matson (Minnesota) titled her story “BEARING BURDENS;” here is Sara’s story:
“I had lived in Spain for five months, teaching in a school for missionary kids. Although I’d been welcomed by the families there, my lack of free time kept me from knowing them well – until I came down with a contagious viral infection.
“Not wanting to burden anyone, I tried to care for myself. But after nearly fainting in the doctor’s office one day, I broke down in tears. Phil, my driver and head of the school board, listened to my woes; guilt over deserting my job; loneliness for friends and family; and the inability to cook proper meals for myself. When I finished, he handed me a tissue and promised to help.
“That night, one of the missionaries delivered a stack of movies. For the next three weeks someone visited daily with a hot meal and then stayed to do my laundry and chat. Looking back now, those weeks provided some of my best memories of my time in Spain.
“I will always remember those kind people. And I will also remember the lovely lesson I learned from them: one of the purposes of the body of Christ is to bear one another’s burdens.”
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY – I was sick and you took care of me (Matt. 25:36).
Prayer: Compassionate Father, is there someone whose burden you want me to bear today? If so, help me to notice that person. Amen.
Prayer Focus: THOSE WHO ARE ILL
To read other stories in The Upper Room, click on the following link: http://devotional.upperroom.org/
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