A Good Neighbor

In our devotional tonight, we read about the Good Samaritan.  Here is the passage we read in Luke 10 (out of the Message).

²⁹ Looking for a loophole, he asked, “And just how would you define ‘neighbor’?”^30-32 Jesus answered by telling a story. “There was once a man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho. On the way he was attacked by robbers. They took his clothes, beat him up, and went off leaving him half-dead. Luckily, a priest was on his way down the same road, but when he saw him he angled across to the other side. Then a Levite religious man showed up; he also avoided the injured man.^33-35 “A Samaritan traveling the road came on him. When he saw the man’s condition, his heart went out to him. He gave him first aid, disinfecting and bandaging his wounds. Then he lifted him onto his donkey, led him to an inn, and made him comfortable. In the morning he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take good care of him. If it costs any more, put it on my bill—I’ll pay you on my way back.’³⁶ “What do you think? Which of the three became a neighbor to the man attacked by robbers?”³⁷ “The one who treated him kindly,” the religion scholar responded.Jesus said, “Go and do the same.”

After we talked about how we could be good neighbors to people on our block, in our school, and around the world.  The "around the world" part was such a good discussion.  We pulled down our globe, spun it over and over to see where our finger would land and who we could pray for.  We prayed for China, South America, Virginia (I think he got this a little confused with "Teacher Virginia") and Madagascar (after the chuckles subsided he was finally able to pray for Madagascar).

But then we talked about how we can really help people that we never met and be a good neighbor to them.   Immediately, Jarrett brought up the orphans.

You see, our church is raising funds to build an orphanage in Indonesia.  We have been raising money for quite some time.  In the foyer of our church, we have a thermometer chart showing how much is raised.  Jarrett is very interested in that chart and knowing that we are getting close to having enough money to build the orphanage.  While we doesn't have a real grasp on the value of money, he does see the progress we've made and that we are close.  In fact, just a few weeks ago he told me that we only have a few more "inches" then we can buy their house.

So I asked him how he can be a good neighbor to those orphans all the way around the world.  His response, "saving money to give them so they can buy a house".   He may not be able to be there to play with them and share toys like he can with his neighbors on our block, but he understands that he is their neighbor when he treats them kindly, just as Jesus said to do.

I love that no matter how young or old we are, God makes His Word clear to us.

Now....

"Go and do the same.”

with love,
Tammy