Extending God’s Love

Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread. Extending God's love to neighbors was written and read by Social Dixon. You have answered correctly, Jesus replied.

Do this and you will live. But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, And who is my neighbor? 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. 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, 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. 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. And Jesus told him, Go and do likewise. Extending God's Love to Neighbors One winter day in Michigan, a delivery man noticed an elderly woman shoveling snow off her driveway. He stopped and convinced the 81-year-old to let him finish the job. Concerned that he'd be late delivering his other packages, she retrieved another shovel.

They worked side by side for almost 15 minutes as her neighbors watched from afar. I'm thankful you helped me, she said. You're God's sent. During a conversation with an expert in the law in Luke chapter 10, Jesus redefined the concept of loving our neighbors. When Jesus asked him to interpret the law, he knew so well. The expert said, 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. Then Jesus shared a story about two religious leaders who ignored a robbery victim.

But a Samaritan, a person most Jewish leaders in those days considered inferior, sacrificed to help the man in need. When the expert of the law realized that the one who had mercy on the man had loved like a neighbor, Jesus encouraged him to do likewise. Loving others isn't always easy or convenient, but as Jesus overwhelms us with his love, he'll help us love all our neighbors like the good Samaritan did.

Let's pray. Dear Jesus, please give us opportunities to love all the people you created and call our neighbors. Help us show love with our words and our actions the way you have demonstrated your love for us. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. As you go about your day, reflect on these questions. How has God shown you his love through an unexpected neighbor? Who can you show God's love to in a practical way this week?