The Good Samaritan

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.                                          1 John 3:1-2

Almost every time I go down the highway there's someone stopped on the side of the road.  I would imagine this is a pretty true statement for just about anyone with a driver's license. Pretty common thing, they'll figure it out eventually right? The thing that gets me is that even though I see someone with a definite need I'll justify my need to continue and usually just keep on going.  I know I can't help everyone but why not help at least one?

But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”   Luke 10:29
(Watch the story HERE)

I doubt the Samaritan was a trained medic equipped with everything he needed in his donkey ambulance traveling around just to help folks in need.  I like to think he's more like your average guy and just grabs whatever he has on hand to help.  He cuts up an extra shirt for bandages, patches the guy up, abandons whatever stuff he needs to in order to make room for his new passenger, loads him up, puts him in a hotel, AND pays the bill.  Not something you see every day.  It cost the Samaritan a lot of time, effort, and money to help someone who probably would have hated him any other day.

How much more then should we help just the "average" people around us?  Maybe it's not trying to fix everyone's problems but instead just helping one or two people around us with the little things. It is often too easy to just turn a blind eye to those in need especially when we live in such a self-centered culture.  One of the reasons I really enjoy working with Next Step Storm is that my job enables me to actually focus on the people.  I genuinely enjoy getting to work with the volunteers, meeting with the homeowners, and getting to be a part of what God is doing wherever we may be at the time.  It's amazing to see the change in everyone involved.

Take time to help someone today.  It might even be as simple as stopping and offering to make a call for the guy on the side of the road.  Don't look at what you lack: time, money, or skill. Instead give from what you have because we serve a Father who lacks nothing.  Ask God for His timing, His wealth, and His ability because we recognize that we can't do anything without Him. (Eph 3:14-20)

But Peter said, “I don’t have silver or gold, but what I have, I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!”  Then, taking him by the right hand he raised him up, and at once his feet and ankles became strong. Acts 3:6-7

Ready to take the next step?  Join us as we serve those in Texas affected by Hurricane Harvey! There are many people that have lost everything and by volunteering you can restore homes and give hope to those that need it most!  Click HERE to learn more!

By Josh Brenneman