by Andy Johnson

MRN Missionary Care Director & Prayer Coordinator

On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus.

We thank You, Father, for Your patience with us every time we stand up to test You! We praise You that You never change, that You never fail any test, that You never act outside Your character, and that You always do what You say You are going to do!

“Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 

“What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”

Thank You, Living Word, for Your words of life! Thank You for the words of God in our own languages, in our hands, even on our phones. We pray for those in our communities who cannot read Your Word for themselves because no one has ever introduced them to it. We pray also for the bible-less peoples of the world who cannot read Your word because it does not yet exist in their language – all 1.5 billion who do not have a complete Bible in their heart language! Equip us, Your servants, to bring Your words to people who’ve never read it for themselves.

He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” 

“You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”

We know Your law of love, O Lord, and yet we confess that we have not loved You with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind. We certainly have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We know the laws; move us to do what You’ve commanded because we want to live!

But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

Bring to mind right now, Father, the names and faces of our neighbors - those on our block, at work, at school, at our favorite restaurants, at the ballfield. Get us out of our comfort zones and into the lives of those You’ve made our neighbors.

In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead.

In huge parts of our cities, Lord, it’s not safe to walk to the grocery store, much less from Jerusalem to Jericho. Violence abounds on our streets and in our homes (regardless of address). The evil one has more than a foothold. In the name of Jesus and by the power of your Spirit, rebuke the evil one and send Your peace. Reclaim each of our neighborhoods as places of peace where the Prince of Peace is honored.

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.

We don’t know, Father, why the priest and the Levite walked by on the other side. We know why we do, though. We are too busy not to pass by. We are too afraid to stop when we see the hurting. Through the action of Your Holy Spirit, we beg You: carve out margins in our calendars that we might stop, and chase out the fear that cripples us from serving Your hurting people. Do not let us ever pass by on the other side again!

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, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii 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.’

Make us like that, Lord! Make us generous people. Do not let us hold too tightly to the things we think are ours, but open our hands to give as You have given. Show us how and when to go out of our way to bless in Your name.

“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.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

As we said before, God, we know the good we ought to do. Today, this Wednesday, make us neighbors like the Samaritan. Come, Lord Jesus. Amen.

Are you interested in sharing Jesus with unreached people of the world?

We can help!

Email start_the_journey@mrnet.org to talk about it.