Week of Monday July 7 – July 13
Like a Good Neighbor – Man as Battle Buddy
“But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.” - Luke 10:33-37 ESV
I came across a news story that reminded me of Jesus’ Parable of the Good Samaritan as well as the call of the Battle Buddy:
Former NFL player Braylon Edwards stepped in and saved the life of an 80-year-old man who was being attacked in the locker room at a suburban Detroit YMCA… "If it wasn't for that intervention, we could very easily be talking about someone's death," said Jeff King, the police chief in Farmington Hills. Authorities, meanwhile, filed an attempted murder charge against a 20-year-old man for the incident Friday at the recreation center. Edwards, 41, said he was "just minding my business" when he heard a dispute about loud music… Edwards stopped the assault of an elderly man, who had a severe head injury. The 20-year-old suspect fled on foot before he was captured by police. "He absolutely saved that man's life," King told The Associated Press. "I've been a police officer going on 29 years. When these assaults are ongoing, really bad things can happen."
You’ve probably seen the advertisements featuring insurance agents in red shirts helping people in all sorts of difficult situations, accompanied by the jingle: “Like a good neighbor…”
A so-called expert in the Jewish law tested Jesus with a question: “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” (The word translated as “test” in verse 25 is the same one the Bible used to describe Satan’s temptation of Jesus in the wilderness. In other words, this scholar was trying to trap Jesus.)
Jesus responded with a question of His own: “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” The scholar answered: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus said, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live” (verses 25-28).
Still seeking to justify himself, the scholar probed further: “And who is my neighbor?” (verse 29). In response, Jesus told the unforgettable Parable of the Good Samaritan. After telling the story, Jesus asked the scholar which person had acted like a good neighbor to the person in distress. The scholar answered, “The one who showed him mercy,” and Jesus replied, “You go, and do likewise.”
The Parable of the Good Samaritan instructs us to “go and do likewise.” A good neighbor is a true Battle Buddy! The Samaritan man, who showed mercy to the wounded man, exemplifies some incredibly important traits that we should embody in our walk with the Lord. These include taking the time to slow down, observe, and respond effectively to those in need. The Samaritan acted decisively and was willing to sacrifice his own resources to help someone who was hurting.
Due to the ravages of sin’s influence, there are many broken men who lie along the roadside of life’s highway. God is calling us to be a Battle Buddy to these men. Perhaps you have experienced the support of a Battle Buddy yourself when you were metaphorically beaten up and face down in a ditch along life’s road. Man of God, pray for the Lord to use you and the resources He has put in your hands to help those in need. Your willingness to be a good neighbor can bless future generations!
- Do you find yourself in the metaphorical ditch right now, beaten up by the world, and in need of a Battle Buddy? Pray and ask the Lord to send a man of God who will help.
- When you survey the landscape of your relationships, is there a man who could use your help right now? Prayerfully consider stepping up and stepping into his life to offer a helping hand.
- Ask God to fill your heart with compassion for the men who are hurting around you and to give you the resolve to step in and help.
Like a Good Neighbor – Man as Battle Buddy
“But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.” - Luke 10:33-37 ESV
I came across a news story that reminded me of Jesus’ Parable of the Good Samaritan as well as the call of the Battle Buddy:
Former NFL player Braylon Edwards stepped in and saved the life of an 80-year-old man who was being attacked in the locker room at a suburban Detroit YMCA… "If it wasn't for that intervention, we could very easily be talking about someone's death," said Jeff King, the police chief in Farmington Hills. Authorities, meanwhile, filed an attempted murder charge against a 20-year-old man for the incident Friday at the recreation center. Edwards, 41, said he was "just minding my business" when he heard a dispute about loud music… Edwards stopped the assault of an elderly man, who had a severe head injury. The 20-year-old suspect fled on foot before he was captured by police. "He absolutely saved that man's life," King told The Associated Press. "I've been a police officer going on 29 years. When these assaults are ongoing, really bad things can happen."
You’ve probably seen the advertisements featuring insurance agents in red shirts helping people in all sorts of difficult situations, accompanied by the jingle: “Like a good neighbor…”
A so-called expert in the Jewish law tested Jesus with a question: “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” (The word translated as “test” in verse 25 is the same one the Bible used to describe Satan’s temptation of Jesus in the wilderness. In other words, this scholar was trying to trap Jesus.)
Jesus responded with a question of His own: “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” The scholar answered: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus said, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live” (verses 25-28).
Still seeking to justify himself, the scholar probed further: “And who is my neighbor?” (verse 29). In response, Jesus told the unforgettable Parable of the Good Samaritan. After telling the story, Jesus asked the scholar which person had acted like a good neighbor to the person in distress. The scholar answered, “The one who showed him mercy,” and Jesus replied, “You go, and do likewise.”
The Parable of the Good Samaritan instructs us to “go and do likewise.” A good neighbor is a true Battle Buddy! The Samaritan man, who showed mercy to the wounded man, exemplifies some incredibly important traits that we should embody in our walk with the Lord. These include taking the time to slow down, observe, and respond effectively to those in need. The Samaritan acted decisively and was willing to sacrifice his own resources to help someone who was hurting.
Due to the ravages of sin’s influence, there are many broken men who lie along the roadside of life’s highway. God is calling us to be a Battle Buddy to these men. Perhaps you have experienced the support of a Battle Buddy yourself when you were metaphorically beaten up and face down in a ditch along life’s road. Man of God, pray for the Lord to use you and the resources He has put in your hands to help those in need. Your willingness to be a good neighbor can bless future generations!
- Do you find yourself in the metaphorical ditch right now, beaten up by the world, and in need of a Battle Buddy? Pray and ask the Lord to send a man of God who will help.
- When you survey the landscape of your relationships, is there a man who could use your help right now? Prayerfully consider stepping up and stepping into his life to offer a helping hand.
- Ask God to fill your heart with compassion for the men who are hurting around you and to give you the resolve to step in and help.