“I Will Pay”

Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho. Robbers attacked him. They stripped off his clothes and beat him. Then they went away, leaving him almost dead. A priest happened to be going down that same road. When he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. A Levite also came by. When he saw the man, he passed by on the other side too.

But a Samaritan came to the place where the man was. When he saw the man, he felt sorry for him. He went to him, poured olive oil and wine on his wounds and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey. He took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins. He gave them to the owner of the inn. 'Take care of him,' he said. 'When I return, I will pay you back for any extra expense you may have.'

"Which of the three do you think was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by robbers?"

The authority on the law replied, "The one who felt sorry for him." Jesus told him, "Go and do as he did."

Luke 10:30-37

So, which are you? Would you have had compassion for the man laying beside the road? The compassion was translated into action. He helped the man. He put him up at an inn, and he paid for the inn and food. He then said if more was needed, he would provide that help. What he did was not over and above the call of duty. It is what God expects of us.

There are people around us who are suffering. Moved with compassion for their pain, let us be those who stop to help.

Compassion is always active.

Our Daily Bread – June 11, 2010