This week's Theme: Motivated by Love
Day 1: Divine Sorting
I dabbed the rag gently over the poor, torn body. It was soaked with Canadian Healing Oil. And my tears. He whimpered and tried weakly to bite my hand. “I’m sorry!” I choked the words out through my tears. “I’m only trying to help you!”
Our dog (I’ll call him Lightning) had been savagely attacked in the road above our house by a vicious neighborhood dog. He didn’t stand a chance. The “fight” was over in a matter of minutes. Lightning had tried to retreat, but by the time he managed to escape, his small body was punctured and ripped, his hair matted and bloody.
Yelping piteously, he disappeared into the crawl space under our house. A few minutes later I followed him there, supplied by my aunt with a basin of hot water and some rags, along with Canadian Healing Oil and Iodex—the go-to balm and salve in every Caribbean home. It seemed hopeless at first, but over the next few days, Lightning slowly recovered as I continued my make-do ministrations.
Except for a few specific services in livestock care and animal husbandry veterinary services did not exist in our small rural community. Life was hard, and the few available resources were already hardly adequate for people in our farming community—they could not be stretched to cover domestic animals.
I had only heard about vets in books I had read. So within the confines of all I knew, I decided that day I would become a nurse. (I never did.)
But love and compassion were the only qualifications I needed to care for our battered, bleeding pet. And looking back, as I think about the natural response, the simple action, and the uncomplicated motivation of my childish heart, I understand why Jesus often used little children to explain the views and values of the kingdom of God.
In the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), Jesus shows us the difference between deliberate detachment and a simple, compassionate response to need. The priest and the Levite both saw, evidently thought, and consequently passed by on the other side (vs.31-32).
The Samaritan, though, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him (vs. 33 -NIV). Other translations convey the same idea of a connection that went beyond mere physical space: (came to where he was - KJV; came near him – NRSVA; came near unto him – GNV; came along him – YLT).
The priest and Levite were probably exemplary in fulfilling their religious obligations—they were likely faithful in the matter of tithes, rituals, worship... But their actions showed that they didn’t understand the true calling of faith.
In His teaching about The Sheep and the Goats (Matthew 25:31-46) Jesus shows us the dangers of external religion. Our money, our religious habits and disciplines, and our offices cannot fulfill true ministry in God’s kingdom as long as we choose to pass by on the other side.
The Samaritan’s gift of compassion preceded his gift of two denarii and the promise of more to come. First, he came personally to need—he cleaned and bandaged and poured. Then he gave. And finally, he set plans in motion to follow up. Jesus used him as an example for us: “Go and do likewise” (Luke 10:37).
Scripture is clear that good works cannot earn us salvation (Ephesians 2:8), but it is equally clear that we cannot love God without loving others (1 John 4:20-21). Love is defined in practical terms in Scripture. It is not a passive emotion, but is packed with action (Romans 12:9-2, James 2:20, 1 John 3:18).
As a small child, I came, motivated by love, to a cramped, dusty crawl space under a house. Because that’s where Lightning was. And with the simple love and compassion of a child I cleaned, and bandaged, and poured.
But what about now? Do I have the simple love and compassion of a child of God? Of a true neighbor? Because even more important than dogs or pets are the people around us who have been ravaged by the evils of this sinful world—those who have been robbed and stripped and beaten and left half-dead. Those who have been torn apart and left bloodied and battered by the vicious attacks of hunger, poverty, abuse, addictions…
Am I willing to offer them simple ministrations out of love and compassion? Or will I hold back from fear of being “bitten” by the hurt, wounded and scarred? I, who many times have bitten the hand of the Savior who has fed, held, and comforted me—the One who tells me that whatever I do or do not do for “one of the least of these” is a direct action toward Him?
The Lord Jesus is clear. A choice now to pass by on the other side is essentially a choice to be on the other side of His divine sorting (Matthew 25:34,41).
O Lord God, keep me from the side of the goats. Deliver me from selfishness, self-absorption, fear, negligence, inattention, distraction, detachment and all other evils that cause me to make the deliberate choice to pass You by!
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