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Who is my Neighbor?
Friday, April 11, 2025 by Rick Stockwell

 

Who is My Neighbor?

 

READ Luke 10:25-37

“And who is by neighbor?”

-- Luke 10:29b (NIV)

 

I lived in Atlanta, Georgia, during the mid-1980s to attend the Emory Business School. A year after graduating, I became a Christian. While driving along the I-85 beltway on my way to a Bible study at church, I picked up a hitchhiker. We struck up a conversation and I asked where he was coming from. “Prison,” he replied. “Oh,” wondering if I had made the right decision to pick him. “What were you in for?” I asked. “Murder.” How do I get out of this situation? turned to How can I help this man? I didn’t know what to say, so I asked if he wanted to go to a Bible study. He said, “Sure.” Surprised, I continued driving to the church. After the Bible study and dinner, I asked where he was staying. He said he didn’t know. I took him to a nearby hotel, paid his bill for one night, and wished him well.

After a conversation about what he must do to inherit eternal life, an expert in the law asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied with the story of the Good Samaritan. A man was beaten by robbers and left for dead. A priest walked by and did nothing to help the injured man. Then a Levite walked by and also did nothing for the man. Finally, a Samaritan had pity on him, bandaged his wounds, put him on his donkey, took him to an inn, and left two silver coins for the innkeeper to take care of him. Jesus asked the expert in the law, “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him “Go and do likewise.”

 

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Who can I have mercy on today?

 

Prayer:  Father in heaven, please help us to have mercy on whoever you put in our path today.

 

Prayer Focus:  PRISONERS

 
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Rick Stockwell

Rick Stockwell is employed as an IT Program Manager, teaches Sunday school for kindergartners, is an elder at his church, has been married for thirty-five years, and has two children and five grandchildren.

Rick is also the author of two novels in his Heavenly Realms series called The Wall and The Battle. Audio, eBook and paperback versions are accessible via this link: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B07HQ8G3MJ 

 


Comments

Diane McAndrews From West Hartford At 4/12/2025 12:14:09 PM

Dear Rick, Nancy and I just read your April 11th Reflection and found it motivating and inspirational. We always need a reminder to stretch a little higher and try a little harder to do better than our set point. Thank you for this wonderful story and how you handled that moment of uncertainty.

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