Ok, let's return to the parable of the Good Samaritan
Picking up at Luke 10:33-37 (NIV)
"But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'
"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."
It's really that simple. Kindness is compassion put into action.
I get convicted every time I read this passage. It is one thing to say we want to show the love of Jesus to a dying world, it is another to actually put those words to the test.
Can we do that? Can we love others like that? Not just those in our family, but even strangers? Even those we do not know?
Again and again we are told in the Word to show kindness to strangers. In fact the writer of Hebrews tells us, "Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it." Heb 13:2 (NIV)
And Jesus takes our service to others very personally. In fact, he tells us that by helping the stranger in our midst, we are helping him.
I'll end with these words from the Lord.
"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
"The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.' Matthew 25:31-40 (NIV, Emphasis mine)
