FAITH CONNECTION – FARMERSVILLE UMC
Ministry Updates for Friday, September 4th, 2020
Sunday, September 6th, at 9:30 a.m.
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This article was shared by Becca Lee
Scripture – Luke 10:29
And who is my neighbor?
Reflection
For my devotion, I reread the story of the Good Samaritan (verses 29-37). The Samaritans and Jews despised each other. The Samaritans, who lived in the Northern Kingdom area, had intermarried with Gentiles (non-Jewish people) and worshiped differently than Jews in the Southern area, who worshiped in Jerusalem. The two groups lived in areas not that far apart but despised each other.
When Jesus told the story of the man beaten by robbers and left for dead by the roadside, only a Samaritan passing through stopped to help the injured one. Not the holy priest. Not the other Jewish man. It was the despised foreigner –the Samaritan –who cared for the man’s wounds and took him to a place of shelter. The other passersby crossed to the other side of the road, turned their heads, and looked the other way.
How would I react in a similar situation? I need this reminder periodically to not take the easy way out, to not simply turn my head and ignore a problem or an injustice. Jesus calls us to pay attention and be the neighbor that speaks up to help others in need, including those not like us.
Jesus continues in verses 36-37:
“Which of these three, do you think, proved neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said: The one who showed mercy on him. And Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
Prayer-
Jesus, Thank you for the reminders you provide to us to not turn our heads away. Help us be good neighbors and share your love to others. Amen