In my men’s group, we were sharing about difficult times in our lives and how God sent someone to walk along side us through it. In one of the lowest times of my life, when I felt the most alone, God sent a couple of guys to check on me. One simply said, “I’ve never been through what you’re going through, so I don’t really know how to help. However, I know you don’t need to be alone.” The other would constantly call to check in on me. Looking back, their actions were some of the greatest gifts God could have given. They were constant reminders that God saw me, that I wasn’t fighting alone and that someone cared. Their actions made healing and recovery possible.
In Luke 10, Jesus tells the story of a man who was on his way to Jericho, when he encountered some robbers. They beat him up, stole his belongings and left him half dead. A pries was walking down the road, saw the hurting man, and chose to walk on the other side. Then a person who worked in the Temple was walking by, saw him, and also walked on the other side. It was then that a Samaritan passed by, saw him, and had compassion on him. He rendered first aid, bandaged the wounds, put him on his donkey, and took him somewhere to be cared for. He told the in. Keeper to care for him, paid him money, and said he would be back to check on him. Then Jesus told us to go and do the same.
Galatians 6:2 says, “Carry one another’s burdens and in this way you will fulfill the requirements of the law of Christ [that is, the law of Christian love]” (AMP). I’m often reminded that everyone is carrying some kind of burden. You can’t always tell at first glance who are carrying the heaviest ones, but if you take the time to really look, you will see. The easy thing is to pass by on the other side of the road and simply say, “I’ll pray for you.” What they need is what they will never ask for: someone to carry the burden they’re too weak to carry. What they need is help bandaging their wounds, to be carried and cared for. They need to know you will be back and not abandon them. Being the Samaritan, who carries another’s burdens, will cost you time, effort, emotional stress, and more. When we fulfill this law of love, we bring hope, life and renewal. We restore what has been broken and give new strength and life to someone who desperately needs it, but may not know how to ask for it.
Photo by Google Gemini
Devotions by Chris Hendrix 