“‘你想，这三个人哪一个是落在强盗手中的邻舍呢？’” – 路 10:36
耶稣所讲的好撒玛利亚人的比喻，历代历世以来激励过很多人来以恩慈待人 – 特别是以此来待那些与他们不同的人，甚至与他们为敌的人（在耶稣的年代，犹太人和撒玛利亚人彼此嫌恶，耶稣讲这个比喻的目的之一，是用以教导人关心那些我们看为敌对的人。）这个故事最终得出的教导就是，在我们周围的每一个人，都是神吩咐我们去爱的人，并要像衪那样去爱他们 – 就是无条件的爱。我们从中被提醒，、要伸手援助那些受创伤的人，好让每一个人看到神的恩慈。
尽管我们不一定能遇到类似耶稣在比喻中描述的境况，但我们都会遇到很多彰显恩慈的机会。我们或许紧赶慢赶去上课、匆匆忙忙去上班、或忙忙碌碌一整天。我们可能非常专注在手头的差事，以致忽略了一个个向人表达慈爱和关怀的机会。
然而，我们若与住在我们心里的圣灵协调同步，圣灵会帮助我们留心这些机会。圣灵看见和听到在我们身边发生的心灵破碎和生命创伤；圣灵帮助我们察觉到 … 某人需要听到一句安慰的话、或某人需要有人诚心向他表达善意。
在今天，我要面对一个简单的问题。我会聆听圣灵的引导、还是过于忙碌，只关注做自己的事呢？
祷告
神的灵啊，求你激励我们，在身处的每一个境况中，都能适时彰显出恩慈。奉耶稣名祈求，阿们。
路加福音 10:25-37
25有一个律法师起来试探耶稣，说：“夫子，我该做什么才可以承受永生？”
26耶稣对他说：“律法上写的是什么？你念的是怎样呢？”
27他回答说：“你要尽心、尽性、尽力、尽意爱主你的神，又要爱邻舍如同自己。”
28耶稣说：“你回答的是。你这样行，就必得永生。”
29那人要显明自己有理，就对耶稣说：“谁是我的邻舍呢？”
30耶稣回答说：“有一个人从耶路撒冷下耶利哥去，落在强盗手中。他们剥去他的衣裳，把他打个半死，就丢下他走了。
31偶然有一个祭司从这条路下来，看见他，就从那边过去了。
32又有一个利未人来到这地方，看见他，也照样从那边过去了。
33唯有一个撒马利亚人行路来到那里，看见他，就动了慈心，
34上前用油和酒倒在他的伤处，包裹好了，扶他骑上自己的牲口，带到店里去照应他。
35第二天拿出二钱银子来，交给店主说：‘你且照应他，此外所费用的，我回来必还你。’
36你想，这三个人哪一个是落在强盗手中的邻舍呢？”
37他说：“是怜悯他的。”耶稣说：“你去照样行吧。”
Kindness To Everyone
“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” – Luke 10:36
Jesus’ parable about the good Samaritan has inspired many people throughout the centuries to act with kindness toward others—especially those who may be different from them or who are even their enemies. (In Jesus’ day the Jews and Samaritans detested each other, and Jesus taught this parable partly as a lesson about caring for people whom we think of as enemies.) Ultimately this story teaches that everyone around us is a neighbor whom God calls us to love just as he loves them—without strings attached. We are reminded to show the kindness of God to everyone and to reach out to people who are hurting.
Though we might not encounter a situation like the one Jesus describes here, we all have opportunities to be kind. We may be rushing off to class, hurrying off to work, or going about our busy day, and we can be so focused on the task at hand that we can miss seeing an opportunity to be kind and to care for someone.
But when we are in step with the Spirit, who lives within us, we find that the Spirit helps us notice such things. The Spirit sees and hears the brokenness and hurts around us. The Spirit helps us to discern . . . that person needs a kind word, or that person needs a random act of kindness.
The question I face today is simple. Will I listen, or will I be too busy doing my own things?
Prayer
Spirit of God, move us to show kindness in every situation we find ourselves in. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
