[Dailydevo] Daily Devotion Wednesday October 26, 2005

[Barry Ludwig]

Daily Devotions Wednesday October 26, 2005

This week's devotions are offered by Karen Ludwig. They focus on the theme
of being neighborly. Who are these neighbors and what is to be done with
them!

 

Being neighborly : Part 3

The Challenge gets greater: as in "the ante is upped!" Not only are we to be
considerate of our neighbors next door or next to us in the pew at church,
but now it appears that we are to include people we don't even know--

 

Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell
into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away,
leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and
when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when
he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a
Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved
with pity. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and
wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and
took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the
innkeeper, and said, 'Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay
you whatever more you spend.' Which of these three, do you think, was a
neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?" He said, "The
one who showed him mercy." Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."

 

This parable  was defining "inclusive" long before it became the buzz word
of employers, institutions admitting students, and churches defining who is
welcome in their midst. God expects us to model the Good Samaritan who
demonstrated that love is not to be confined to those we know and feel
comfortable with. 

 

I saw this global neighborliness during my time in Tanzania with the Maasai.
On some of our jaunts in the Land Cruisers, Dr. Steve would pull over when
he would see a small group of warriors, spears in hand,  hailing him to
stop. Soon there would be 2-3 warriors squeezed in the back with us and
traveling to their destination somewhere up the road.  Certainly, I thought,
they must carry some hatred of the whites who come onto their land
remembering the slave traders of years gone by. I was informed that there is
not an "all whites are bad" mentality. I experienced that as the generosity
and love was so visible in smiles and friendliness offered to complete
strangers. By being in mission with those across the globe we are given an
opportunity to show mercy to many.

Pray for an inclusive heart, one that looks beyond the zip code in which you
reside.

 

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