July 29
A Neighbor
in Need
“A man was attacked and left for dead. A priest and a Levite passed by and didn't help. But a Samaritan, when he saw the man, took pity on him. He bandaged his wounds, took him to an inn, and cared for him. Jesus said, "Go and do likewise."
Luke 10:25-37 (NIrV)
Frank had walked down the same city street a hundred times before, but today was different. As he hurried to a meeting, he spotted something that made him pause—a man laying motionless in the middle of the sidewalk. The man appeared homeless, his clothes ragged and stained, his body lifeless on the cold concrete. The people walking by avoided looking at him, as if they couldn’t see the man at all. They hurried past, not wanting to get involved, to risk slowing their day down or dealing with something uncomfortable.
Frank's heart raced. He didn’t have time to deal with this, not today. He had a big project at work and needed to be there in fifteen minutes. But as he stepped closer to the man, something deep inside him stirred. He thought about the people passing him by, pretending they didn’t see. Could he really just walk away?
He crouched down next to the man and checked for a pulse. Nothing. Panic gripped Frank’s chest. He checked again—no sign of life. He fumbled for his phone and called an ambulance, his voice shaky as he explained the situation. While waiting, Frank took off his jacket and carefully draped it over the man, trying to offer him some warmth.
As he knelt beside the stranger, Frank prayed quietly, “Lord, please let him be okay. Help him. I don’t know what to do, but I can’t just leave him here.”
Moments later, the paramedics arrived, and Frank stepped back to let them do their work. They found that the man wasn’t just unconscious—he had internal injuries from a fall or possibly a beating. They quickly loaded him into the ambulance.
Frank watched them drive away, his heart still heavy. The man had been just a stranger on the street, but now he was someone Frank had helped, someone who needed him. As the adrenaline wore off, Frank reflected on how easily he could’ve turned away like the others. It had taken that extra moment to listen to his heart, to slow down, and to act.
He thought of the story Jesus told about the Good Samaritan. The priest and Levite had both walked away from someone in need, but the Samaritan had stepped in to help, showing mercy. Frank wasn’t sure if he had been a hero, but he did know he had done the right thing. In that moment, he had chosen to be a neighbor, to love someone as he loved himself, and that was enough.
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for giving me the chance to help someone in need today.
I pray that I will continue to listen to Your voice and have the courage to act with compassion, even when it’s hard or inconvenient.
Help me to see the needs around me and to be a good neighbor, just as You have shown mercy to me.
Let my actions reflect Your love and grace, no matter where I am or who I encounter.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
