Luke 10:37 (NIV)
The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
Luke chapter 10, verses 25-37 brings us the parable of
the Good Samaritan. Here we have a story about a well-to-do legal eagle anxious
to make an impression and display his knowledge of the scriptures. But Jesus
threw back the challenge and asked him who was the neighbor and the lawyer
replied "the one who had mercy on him." And Jesus told him to,
"Go and do likewise."
There is a modern version of this story. It concerned a
travelling salesman who lived somewhere in the United States. He had had a busy
week and was returning to his home town. He stopped his car for a break at a
roadside coffee shop. As he sat drinking his coffee he heard a girl quietly
crying in the next booth. He didn't want to get involved but he was moved by
her obvious distress. The girl was about 17, the same age as his own daughter.
Against his better judgment he introduced himself and asked if he could help.
The girl whose name was Lisa told him that she was from a broken home and had
got into bad company. She was into drugs and had turned to prostitution to pay
for them. Moved as he was, he just bought the girl a meal and continued his
journey.
Later that evening he shared his experience with his
family, how his heart had reached out to her and how he wanted to help her in
some way. His family suggested that he return to that town and try to find Lisa
again and offer to help. He eventually located her. He discovered that she was
but a number of girls in that town in similar circumstances who were being
exploited by the pimps and drug pushers. He was so moved by Lisa’s plight that
he took her home to his family, and that started a ministry to try and get
those girls off the streets. Out of that simple beginning over a cup of coffee
that man now has three full time workers and has seen scores of girls come off
the streets and get their lives back together. Some of those same girls are now
part of the team. The ministry became so successful that it earned that man a
Presidential citation.
He acted like a good Samaritan. He could have got
together with his church fellowship and said, "we need to pray for these
girls, they must be set free." If that was all he had done nothing would
have happened. We need to pray, but we need to act. We need to pray, not for
the situation itself but for the courage and strength to step out in faith and
do something about it according to the gifts that God has given us.
There are a million stories out there. There are
thousands of girls like Lisa and there are countless examples of injustice,
corruption, pornography, abuse, and everywhere there are people needing,
searching, desperately trying to find a new life. We are His hands and feet.
When Jesus said ‘follow me’ He meant it!
Dear Lord, help us be Your hands and feet. Keep our eyes
open so that we can help those that are in need. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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