After the Crossნიმუში

This verse is from one of the most often-cited stories Jesus told in the Bible. The story of the Good Samaritan. Two supposedly God-following people, a priest, and a Levite, saw a dying man and did not help him. But the Samaritan, culturally the man’s enemy, did stop to help. But there’s a phrase in Jesus’ telling of the story that’s key in both of the religious leaders’ actions: They both saw the man as they were walking, and “passed by on the other side” (Luke 10:31, 32). It’s the same language for what both men did. Both men responded the same way—they did their best to put the injured man out of the path of their lives. And that’s key.

Yes, it is true that the Church is to spread the Love and Truth of Jesus to the world. But it can be overwhelming to assume that it’s your job to change the world. The wording in this passage is key—just seek to bring Jesus’ Love to the folks in your path. Your Father put you where you are to be a representative—where you are. It is true that God put the nations in the hearts of some people. But He didn’t do that for a lot of us. And every single one of us is called to bring His Love to life with our lives. Our closest circle is our family, then our friends, our church, and then, yes, the world. But first, it’s the people in your path. If someone’s in your path, be like the Good Samaritan. God has chosen you for such a time as this.