LUKE 10:30-35 – Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 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.’

THEME OF THE DAY:  HOW’S OUR EYESIGHT?  It would be easy to start reading today’s scripture and think, “I know this story. I already know the lessons.  Take care of the hurting.  Go out of your way to serve.  Pay the price of serving others.” I get that. I do. I whispered the same thing until I confessed to the Lord my loss of awe over a familiar story and read it again with “fresh” eyes.  And speaking of eyes . . . How’s our eyesight?

As we read the Parable of the Good Samaritan with “fresh” eyes, identify two commonalities among the priest, Levite, and Samaritan.  First, they are traveling down the same road.  Next, they all saw the hurt man. But is that latter statement really true? Did they share common eyesight toward the man robbed and left for dead?  Yes and no.

Yes, each one, the priest, Levite, and Samaritan saw him with physical eyesight. He was visible on the side of the road so much so two of them, the priest and Levite, had to go across the road to avoid him.

No, they did not share common eyesight.  The priest and Levite didn’t see him through the heart and thus eyes of Jesus.  The Samaritan did.  Luke records, But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to the where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion.

What moved the Samaritan into sacrificial service meeting the needs of the hurt man?  His eyesight of compassion flowing from his heart of compassion.  And it will be so for us as well.  We must see people through the heart of Jesus, which enables to identify the hurting people around us that moves us to serve them for Jesus and in Jesus’ name. Without being controlled by His love, we may serve others but not consistently and sacrificially.  We must see every person in our daily lives through the heart and eyes of Jesus.  It is the only way to be sustained and make a difference in the lives of others.

So, how’s our eyesight?  Are we seeing people like Jesus?  Maybe we need an eye doctor check-up.  Maybe we need a new prescription because we are not seeing as properly as the Lord would have us. Or maybe a visit to a heart doctor first?  Think about it.

PRAYER: “Father, may I see people not with my eyes only but through the heart of Jesus.”

QUOTE: “Unless we see people first and foremost as Jesus does, we won’t be Jesus to them.”

Because of Him,

Pastor Jim