WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 31
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.”
Luke 10:36-37
MERCY
In this passage I want to highlight the lawyers response to Jesus and Jesus double command. First, the lawyer responds rightly, that the neighbor is the one who showed him mercy. The neighbor goes out of his way to give this man what he does not deserve. Think of mercy as a pulling-back of pain in order to make room for grace. That it is merciful to pull pack the consequences of an action and it is graceful to insert care and love. Then Jesus gives the double imperative commanding the man to GO + DO. We are called to go and show mercy by pulling back pain and providing grace to our neighbors.
Bob Goff says it this way, “There is no class on how to love your neighbor, just the house next door”.
GO!
Reflection
What could you do to show mercy to someone in your sphere of influence today?
Prayer
Our Father,
Thank you for your Word. We pray that by your Spirit, Luke 10:36-37 would change us into the likeness of Christ. Lord, may we show mercy today. May we go into the different arenas with of our lives commanded by Jesus to pull pack pain in peoples lives and provide grace! We can’t do this in our own strength. We are far too selfish and weak to do this without you. Remind us again of your mercy on us and may we respond rightly. We pray these in the your name by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
