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When Jesus told the story of the Good Samaritan, it wasn’t just a nice parable about kindness. It was a bold reminder of what we could face in this world.
A man left half-dead on the road is ignored by the ones who should have helped - family and friends. During those times people knew each other. The town was full of relatives. So it was strange that this man was just left there on the side of the road with no one to help him.
Yet, the Samaritan, a stranger —despised by the culture—was the one who stopped, cared, and showed mercy.
Jesus’ words cut to the heart: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Think of how much you value your own life. You feed yourself, protect yourself, and you wouldn’t knowingly cause yourself harm. That same care is what Jesus commands us to extend outward—to strangers, to those who are different, even to those we might struggle to love.
But Jesus also gave us a warning: “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves” (Matthew 10:16). Not everyone will live by this gospel of love. So how do we love like Christ when we are faced with wolves.
Some will turn away, others may take advantage, and many will not understand. Yet our calling does not change. We are still commanded to reflect the heart of God in a world that can often feels hostile and unkind to us.
This is not an easy walk, saints. Being a Christian despite what many perceive it is not for the weak. It takes responsibility and humility to love beyond comfort, courage to love beyond safety, and faith to trust that God sees every act of mercy. The Good Samaritan wasn’t just helping a wounded man—he was living out the very heart of the gospel.
Reflection
Who is God calling me to see as my “neighbor” today?
Do I withhold love because of differences or past hurts?
How can I trust God more deeply as He sends me “like a sheep among wolves”?
Prayer
Lord, soften my heart to love as You love. Remove any boundaries I have built between myself and others. Give me the courage of the Good Samaritan, to stop, to help, and to serve—even when it costs me something. Protect me as You send me out into the world, and remind me that You are my Shepherd among the wolves. May my life reflect Your compassion without limits. Amen.
Xoxo,
Dr. Jordan
