Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.
He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him”
Character Check Who in my life might be like the man the Samaritan stopped to help?
In Business Terms I was on a plane coming from Chicago to Milwaukee. I asked for a seat with an empty seat beside it, because I had a writing assignment, and I needed to spread out my Bible and notes, and study So on this small plane, I ended up the only person with an empty seat next to her.
I got out my Bible, and just as we were about to take off, into the plane came this huge man, 6’4″ or 6’5″-very masculine. But he was dressed like a woman-mini-skirt and stockings, high-heeled white shoes and purse, and wig. As this cross-dresser came down the aisle, I realized, The only open seat is next to me. He’s going to be sitting next to me all during this flight. And I suddenly wanted to put my Bible away. I’m amazed I had these reactions. Prejudices I didn’t know I had came out I said to the Lord, “I don’t really care about him. I really don’t care if he goes to heaven or hell. And that’s the truth. I’m writing and preaching about these things, and suddenly here is a real-life human being, and I don’t care a bit about him.”
I repented and said, “I’m sorry, Lord. Forgive me, and give me your heart for this man. You died for him.”
I didn t lead him to Christ, but I smiled at him and changed my attitude. I began to ask myself, What’s happened in his life to bring him to this point? At the end of the journey, I had a compassion for him I didn’t have at the beginning.
—Jill Briscoe
Something to Think About Let my heart be broken by the things that break the heart of God. – Bob Pierce
