5/22/20

Mercy by Gary Rose



Hunters hunt; that is what they do. But to find one showing mercy on a deer, well, that is truly amazing! And, as this Corona-virus pandemic wears on some people are becoming desperate, having to rely on food banks and social service for their everyday needs. Many people would say that they are "down and out".

Being "down and out" stinks! I have been there many times over the years and can remember times that I would have loved for someone to have lent me a hand. The Bible talks about something just like that in the book of Luke...

Luke 10 ( World  English  Bible )
25 Behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
26 He said to him, "“What is written in the law? How do you read it?” "
27 He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.”
28 He said to him, "“You have answered correctly. Do this, and you will live.”"
29 But he, desiring to justify himself, asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?”
30 Jesus answered, "“A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who both stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead. "
31 "By chance a certain priest was going down that way. When he saw him, he passed by on the other side. "
32 "In the same way a Levite also, when he came to the place, and saw him, passed by on the other side. "
33 "But a certain Samaritan, as he traveled, came where he was. When he saw him, he was moved with compassion, "
34 "came to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. He set him on his own animal, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. "
35 "On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, and gave them to the host, and said to him, ‘Take care of him. Whatever you spend beyond that, I will repay you when I return.’ "
36 "Now which of these three do you think seemed to be a neighbor to him who fell among the robbers?”"
37 He said, “He who showed mercy on him.”
Then Jesus said to him, "“Go and do likewise.”"

God has shown us mercy in the person and works of Jesus of Nazareth, who is called the Christ of God. Are you seeking God? In the Lucan passage above, a Lawyer was and Jesus tells him the famous story of the "Good Samaritan". At the end of the tale, Jesus says "“Go and do likewise.”" My fellow Christians: Are we listening yet?