February 14, 2024

February 14th, 2024

“It’s All About Jesus!”
Luke 10:25-37 (The Good Samaritan)
Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. – Luke 10:34 (NLT)
“Love Does”

Imagine with me for a moment God looking over the banister of Heaven and seeing His creation struggling as they do. People are lost. People are dying. People are confused. People are looking here and there for some way to find forgiveness for their guilt, freedom from their addictions, and hope for their future. Picture God shaking His head, a tear rolling down His cheeks, and saying to the angels around Him, “I feel so bad for those people. I really wish someone would do something.” And then He turns around and goes back to sit on His throne. If that’s what God would have done, we’d all still be in a heap of trouble right now.
But He didn’t. Yes, God looked down on the plight of man, and His heart was indeed broken for them. But it didn’t stop there. God took action. “For God so loved the world that He sent His one and only Son, that whosoever would believe in Him would not perish but have everlasting life.” Mankind was not saved by God’s compassion. We were saved by His Action. God’s Love became flesh and became the sacrifice for our sins.
That’s what our passage reminds us of today. Love does. Caring and compassion are not enough. Those wonderful qualities need arms and legs and voices to make a difference in the lives of the people around us. Seeing a person sad at work or school and feeling bad for them doesn’t change their day one bit. But going over to them, letting them know that you can tell they’re upset, and asking them if there is anything you can do to help might just make their day. Seeing an elderly person pushing a cart full of groceries to their car and feeling sad for them is nice, but going to them and asking if you can help load their groceries in their car might save them from hurting themselves.
The Good Samaritan didn’t just feel compassion for the man lying beside the road. He went to him. He put medicine on his wounds and bandaged him. He helped him onto his donkey, took him to an inn, and cared for him. Jesus uses this story to point out that THIS is what real love is. It’s not a feeling. It’s more than just having sympathy. Love is the willingness to be inconvenienced. Love gets involved. Love DOES. So what will YOU do? That’s God’s Word for you today.