Compassion in Action (Day 2)
Mercy Needs a Neighbor
Luke 10:36–37 (ESV)
“Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”
“Mercy can’t live in a vacuum — it has to have a target.”
Devotional Thought
Just imagine Jesus telling you — “Go and do likewise.” That is straight-up kingdom talk right there.
Mercy, by its nature, needs a neighbor. It needs a them. You cannot practice mercy sitting alone in your chair, reading your Bible, and never looking up. If mercy is compassion in action, then you have to aim it at someone.
Mercy needs a neighbor.
Jesus paints the picture with the Good Samaritan: the priest and the Levite knew all the right answers, but they kept their distance. Maybe they had important things to do. Maybe they felt spiritual, but their mercy had no legs.
Then comes the Samaritan — a man with every reason to ignore the wounded Jew. He was moved with compassion, and he acted. That’s what blows me away. He didn’t measure worthiness, he didn’t check a background report, he didn’t worry about being taken advantage of. He saw a neighbor, not a project.
That humbles me, because I know how often I see a need and keep on moving.
If…then. If mercy is compassion in action, then I must put my compassion on someone. Mercy has to move. It has to cross a boundary, break through prejudice, interrupt my calendar, and cost me something. It’s easy to talk about loving the world in general, but Jesus makes us love somebody in particular.
So who is that neighbor for you today? Who have you been stepping around, ignoring, or writing off? Jesus says mercy isn’t about passing by. It’s about crossing over. That’s why He commands, “Go and do likewise.”
Mercy, by its nature, needs a neighbor. It needs a them. You cannot practice mercy sitting alone in your chair, reading your Bible, and never looking up. If mercy is compassion in action, then you have to aim it at someone.
Mercy needs a neighbor.
Jesus paints the picture with the Good Samaritan: the priest and the Levite knew all the right answers, but they kept their distance. Maybe they had important things to do. Maybe they felt spiritual, but their mercy had no legs.
Then comes the Samaritan — a man with every reason to ignore the wounded Jew. He was moved with compassion, and he acted. That’s what blows me away. He didn’t measure worthiness, he didn’t check a background report, he didn’t worry about being taken advantage of. He saw a neighbor, not a project.
That humbles me, because I know how often I see a need and keep on moving.
If…then. If mercy is compassion in action, then I must put my compassion on someone. Mercy has to move. It has to cross a boundary, break through prejudice, interrupt my calendar, and cost me something. It’s easy to talk about loving the world in general, but Jesus makes us love somebody in particular.
So who is that neighbor for you today? Who have you been stepping around, ignoring, or writing off? Jesus says mercy isn’t about passing by. It’s about crossing over. That’s why He commands, “Go and do likewise.”
Application Questions
- Who is “the neighbor” God is putting on your heart today?
- What excuses do you use to stay on the other side of the road?
- How can you show mercy to them without waiting for them to earn it?
Today's Challenge
Reach out to someone you’d normally pass by.
Look them in the eyes, ask about their story, and do something tangible to help — no strings attached. That’s kingdom mercy.
Look them in the eyes, ask about their story, and do something tangible to help — no strings attached. That’s kingdom mercy.
Today's Prayer
Lord, thank You for seeing me as a neighbor, not a project. You crossed the road for me, You carried me, You paid my bill. That’s incredible. Help me do the same. Give me eyes to see, a heart to move, and the faith to go beyond what’s comfortable. Make mercy my default, and love my reflex. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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