"Jesus replied with a story: 'A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road.
31 “By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. 32 A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side.
33 “Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. 34 Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. 35 The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’
36 “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?' Jesus asked.
37 The man replied, 'The one who showed him mercy.'
Then Jesus said, 'Yes, now go and do the same.'”
A Samaritan acting more merciful and human, even funding real care, really!?
We can live like that -- we can do that stuff by God's compassionate anointing!
Q: Do you currently have a connection of love upwards (to God), so much so that this positively affects your outward "care and share" with people?
Hey, you and I have two top responsibilities -- to know and obey the greatest of all authoritative commandments and to love our neighbor as ourselves (cuz we already love self right!?).
Who could consistently do that by willpower alone -- by their own power? Not me.
Q: How do you spend time with God, love and worship Him, and how do you show love towards people too. Love ..always protects. Do you and I do more than that? Do we listen, hear and meet needs like Jesus did?
By Jesus' estimation, real caring is to precede real sharing. Every single time.
Sometimes choosing to immediately get involved is indeed caring, and this also sends a message (sharing).
Q: If a small child jumps off that sidewalk curb downtown where there's thick traffic at rush hour, will you really need to pause, kneel to pray about whether you have a call to children's ministry or not? Man, I hope not -- just go grab the kid's arm and pull them to safety, please.
Now, in some parts of India or Africa today, where you're surrounded by so many serious needs, you will need to pray as you go regarding which ones to get involved with and how.
* Let's Talk More About The Greatest Responsibility (Lk. 10:25–37)
Just like some lame liberal theologians and some Bible students today, Jewish rabbis back in the day enjoyed debating the finer points of deep doctrines, and in the Text we see a lawyer (a so-called student of the OT law) who wanted to hear Him out on a topic. What's Jesus got to say on this?
We kinda get the impression that this man was not really seeking truth, but was only trying to show himself smarter or to involve Jesus in some debate that he hoped he would win. Was he out to trap the Lord?
The lawyer proved to be pretty evasive when it came to facing the solid truth honestly and then obeying truth. Yo, our greatest responsibility is to obey the greatest of all the Authoritative commandments, which the man quoted accurately (from Lev. 19:18 and Deut. 6:5). But you and I cannot rightly love God or love our neighbor until we have the Lord and God’s love in our hearts (Rom. 5:5; 1 John 4:19).
If we cannot keep the greatest of God's commandments (Mark 12:28–34), then how can we ever hope to go please God anywhere?
How important it is to see that salvation is by faith alone, and not by keeping the law; but once a person has been saved (forgiven, reborn spiritually), he or she can sure depend on the Spirit to lead, to help, to fill their hearts with His love.
Why was the Parable of the Good Samaritan even given out in the first place? It was shared in answer to an evasive question from this lawyer. “Define your terms, please!” -- that's the old lawyer trick for the process of debating.
Instead of the hearer getting involved in abstract spiritual terms, Jesus presented a concrete case to the man, and the lawyer quickly understood His point.
We must not “over-spiritualize” Christ's parable, turning it into some allegory of salvation. We people are so prone to overspiritualize! Christ's point is simply this -- our neighbor is anybody who needs us at that moment, anybody whom we can help.
Who was the real “hero” of the story? It was an ordinary dude like me who could do something to help. It was a Samaritan caring for a Jew.
Who were not the heroes in the story? The priest and Levite—the paid professional religious workers—are not heroes here at all. The question we must answer is not “Who is my neighbor?” but “To whom can I act caring towards, and be a neighbor for?”
In a way too busy world of AI, algorithms, and doom-scrolling.. in this type of world where reading books has fallen on hard times, where people long for more than podcasts of new information offer.
You know, they long for a wholesome connection with caring humanity, and if that caring humanity is in connection with the God-man who cares, they're going to get pointed to the truth of the Word for salvation and then sanctification.
Jesus is the wholesome, caring, and sharing human who is also fully God. We all need to know Him and his people who stay connected.
Seems like if a person earns and has paid for more these days.. if they have better Sapphire-type credit cards or expensive subscriptions with certain apps and programs, then they are going to quickly be able to reach real humans who can help.
Otherwise, they might call and get AI-bots that can really miss.
Let's say you are in a Cobalt club, a Diamond, or a Titanium elite like group? Guess what: You're going to get human involvement with your need quickly where the mere commoners will get a recorded voice perhaps.
(God kindly hears and answers the prayers (yes, no, or wait) of all his children on any socio-economic level).
Caring human connection, especially when the caring person is in touch with the caring God-man, Jesus.. is wonderful!
Christ accepts any and all who believe and turn to Him -- whosoever will come.
Let's talk more about caring human connection upwards, and outwards with people who are also in touch with God by faith and with other people who are not.
You and I live in the end of end times now. That's obvious to see and all sorts of knowledge will increase, yet people more than ever long for the warmth of human hospitality!
Mr. Wiersbe presents four good questions asked by Dr. Luke in chapter ten. Inquiries by way of taking a personal inventory:
- What makes you serve (1–16)? Jesus was not limited to the Twelve; seventy others obeyed Him and helped to reap the harvest. But the laborers are still few, and Luke 9:57–62 tells why. The ministry is difficult and dangerous, but it is also very rewarding. Are you obedient to His call?
- What makes you rejoice (Lk. 10:17–24)? When the disciples rejoiced over their successful ministry, Jesus told them to rejoice because they were the citizens of heaven. After all, their work might not always be successful, but their salvation would never change. Jesus rejoiced because the Father’s will was being accomplished in their lives. What brings joy to your heart?
- What makes you pause (25–37)? It is not difficult to discuss neighborliness in the abstract, but it costs something to be a real neighbor. Do you pause to help when you see injustice and hurt, or like the priest and the Levite, do you look for an escape? You are never more Christlike than when you feel another’s hurt and seek to help.
- What makes you listen (38–42)? Here is the basis for all real ministry: taking time to sit at the feet of Jesus and hear His Word. It is important to serve the Lord and serve others, but it is even more important to delight your Lord by spending time with Him. Are you so busy serving Him that you have no time to love Him and listen to Him? Knowing, following, obeying and serving Jesus matters most!
"Faithful to my Lord’s commands,
I still would choose the better part;
Serve with careful Martha’s hands
And loving Mary’s heart." ~ Charles Wesley
“Justice seeks out the merits of the case, but pity only regards the need.” ~ Bernard of Clairvaux
P: Lord Jesus, help us see from your perspective and do the top two commandments -- help us care like you do! We ask for a fifth great awakening that spawns authentic revial with evangelistic fervor! Do it again, what You have done on earth before.. any way you want to. We want to be involved with you and your work here. Pour out all that You want to Pour out today! Lord, what can I (a saved sinner) do today to assist open-hearted, hurting and broken sinners?
Are there any sound Christian churches with spiritual (reborn seeing) pastors fairly near to where you live? We all need Jesus first, and a praying Christian community and fellowship around the truth to grow spiritually (His family members eager to mature).
God talks gobs about His spiritual family and biological fam too. Guess what.. when children really care and walk in wisdom, they bring joy to their parents and others (Prov. 10:1; 15:20; 17:21, 25; 19:26; 23:24–25). It is tragic when children are not taught to respect God or their parents and grandparents (23:22; 30:17), when they speak evil of them (20:20), waste their money with the wrong friends (28:7; 29:3), and rob their parents (28:24). Let the little children come unto Jesus -- help them to. Early discipline helps a child learn to respect both Direct Authority, parental authority, teacher and police authorities, and to appreciate parental love (13:24; 19:18; 22:15).
Believer, remember the basic ingredients of real growth: Daily Bible daily intake, daily prayer (connection all day 24/7/365), tactfully respectfully sharing your faith in Jesus, and fellowship with other growing believers! Those remain so vital for us to grow and mature spiritually! There is no spiritual growth apart from the Word!
So who in the Book really cared and then shared in that order versus those who didn't care?
When this world and so many worldly churches get darker, louder, noisier, even bigger and faster (minus godly leadership in them), the quiet power of the Word and real human care like Christ's becomes more and more precious to us! I feel motivated to prayerfully go get, to bring a friend, to point folks to Him and towards His church.
* 1. Caring Human Connection Rooted In Sound Biblical Faith
The heart of it—love flowing from knowing God:
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John 13:34–35 — “By this all will know… if you have love for one another.”
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1 John 4:7–8 — Selfless love proves we are born of God.
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1 John 3:16–18 — Not just words—real, tangible care that assists, that ministers to people.
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Galatians 6:2 — Bear one another’s burdens.
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Romans 12:10–13 — Be devoted, hospitable, generous.
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Hebrews 10:24–25 — Stir one another up, use your gift or lose it… don’t neglect gathering together to worship and edify people.
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Acts 2:42–47 — Daily fellowship upwards, outwards -- shared life doing life together, glad hearts!
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Colossians 3:12–14 — Compassion, kindness, serving, humility, love... better binds us to the head of the Church with each other.
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Philippians 2:1–4 — Look to the Lord and towards the interests of others before focusing in on your own interests. Those people matter!
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Ephesians 4:15–16 — Truth + love = grace-growth together.
* 2. Hospitality, Warmth, and “The Ministry of Presence”
(Godly Hospitality = philoxenia, a kind and wise “love of strangers”)
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Romans 12:13 — Choose to practice biblical hospitality.
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Hebrews 13:2 — Some folk entertained angels unknowingly.
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1 Peter 4:8–10 — Love God and people deeply… wisely offer hospitality without gripy grumbling, murmuring, complaining.
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Matthew 25:35–40 — Caring about pleasing God most, caring for people = blessing Christ.
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Luke 10:33–35 — The Good Samaritan (a pic of compassion in action. Love is a verb).
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Isaiah 58:6–11 — True spirituality = feeding, ministering, sheltering, bandaging, caring.
- When I hear that word "Hospitality," I also hear the heartbeat of a good “hospital”—that place of healing, of smart nurture, a place to find comfort and lasting help.
* 3. The End Times, Information-Explosion Has Arrived, Yet So Many Hearts Are Still Empty!
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Daniel 12:4 — “Knowledge shall increase.”
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2 Timothy 3:1–5 — Lovers of self, pleasure… lacking in real love. So many family members are even hurting and betraying each other. Do you demand they live for and serve you?
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Matthew 24:12 — “Love of many will grow cold.”
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Ecclesiastes 12:12 — Endless information influx, yet so little soul rest in the Word.
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Amos 8:11 — There's indeed a famine… not of bread, but hearing God’s Word.
Believer, are you living missional like Jesus did? With grace adn truth are you out visiting the last, the lost, the liars, lepers -- the lonely? Escatology shows us how information multiplies, but incarnational ministry (real presence) becomes so rare here.
* 4. Great Christian Voices (Connection vs Coldness)
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“People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” — Theodore Roosevelt
- You can sorta preach wordless and then add some words in. “Preach the gospel at all times; if necessary, use words.” — Francis of Assisi
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“A holy life will make the deepest impression.” — D. L. Moody
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“The world is not won by argument but by love.” — Samuel Zwemer
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“You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving.” — Amy Carmichael
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“The gospel is only good news if it gets there in time.” — Carl F. H. Henry
* 5. Caring Connection Reached Out And Healed The Broken
Who were some peeps who actually cared for humans because they knew a caring God who poured His grace into them? See Bible Contexts:
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Luke 7:36–50 — Jesus restores the sinful woman.
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John 4 — Jesus with the Samaritan woman
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Mark 10:46–52 — Blind Bartimaeus—Jesus stopped.
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Luke 19:1–10 — Zacchaeus—seen, called, transformed.
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John 8:1–11 — Woman caught in adultery.
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Acts 3:1–10 — “Silver and gold I do not have… but Jesus.”
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Philemon 1 — Paul restores Onesimus relationally.
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2 Corinthians 1:3–4 — Comfort others with received comfort.
* 6. Who Were Those Who Represented God—but Didn’t Really Care?
I'm not really interested in cold-blooded, heartless religion, where there's no compassion:
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Luke 10:31–32 — Priest and Levite pass by wounded man.
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Matthew 23:23–28 — Pharisees: outwardly clean, inwardly dead.
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Mark 7:6–13 — Mere lip service, heart far from God.
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John 5:5–13 — Leaders ignore the healed man, focus on rules.
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Ezekiel 34:2–4 — Shepherds who fleeced instead of fed sheep, but fed themselves, the flock came last.
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James 2:15–17 — Words without action = dead faith.
* 7. Contrast: Those Who Cared First, Then Shared
Care → credibility → truth
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Jesus: Matthew 9:36 — moved with compassion → teaches, heals. compassion > empathy
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Paul: 1 Thessalonians 2:8 — shared not only gospel, but care and life.
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Barnabas: Acts 4:36–37 — encourager, generous, relational.
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Dorcas (Tabitha): Acts 9:36–39 — known for good works and care.
- They came close. They got up off their blessed assurance and entered people’s experience of pain, before speaking into their souls about lasting Solutions. The confusion, fears, lies, and doubts are real out there. Something ought to be done, to be said, to be done again.
* 8. Contrast: Those Who Spoke Without Caring
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1 Corinthians 13:1–3 — truth without love = worthless noise.
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Jonah — ran, and then preached, but he didn’t really love those people.
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The elder brother — so moral outwardly, but cold-hearted inside. Your son (not my dear brother)
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The Pharisee — puffed up, snooty, proud, and zero mercy.
* 9. Imperative! The Necessity Of Living With Bible Basics In A Praying Community
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Acts 2:42 — Bible doctrine (applicable teaching), fellowship (care and share), breaking bread, prayer.
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Hebrews 3:13 — exhort one another daily.
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James 5:16 — confess sins and pray for one another.
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Colossians 4:2–6 — prayer + wise engagement with lost outsiders.
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Matthew 18:20 — Jesus is present there, where believers gather. He still likes closeness.
Are you the Father's child or merely one of His creations?
* 10. The Core Reality You’re Pointing To
In a lost world...
- of complex algorithms getting more complex, and AI that's evolving too, all the earthly cast systems of VIPs and VVIPs or non-VIPs, regarding daily relationships
- of speed over quality care and presence
- of fake and true information over regeneration and transformation from sactification -- you and I can live true minus spiritual compromise, keeping it all true even when they feel so blue
Have you yet expressed true repentance and invited the living Christ in to be Savior and Lord? What in the world are you waiting for, Sport!? God’s answer is not better interwebs and puter-systems—it’s incarnational people with Jesus living inside as Lord:
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John 1:14 — The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.
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2 Corinthians 5:20 — We believers are ambassadors for Christ. Go ye therefore...(we have a part in helping to bring closure with the Great Commission)
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Matthew 5:16 — Let your light shine before all people.
* Might Ya Go A Bit Deeper In The Word Of Truth?
It is this:
*Access closeness and practical or spiritual help may be tiered in this corrupt world-system (elite status, premium service), but in Christ, access is open and free to “whoever will” come on His terms (Revelation 22:17).
And yet…
- The felt experience of God’s great agape love often comes through
a saved (righteous, not self-righteous) human being who just pauses, listens up, and cares in practical ways. Believer, ya often don't need to say a thing really.
Hey, that’s where you and I live every day—right at the intersection of excellent hospitality and eternity, bro.
