Fearlessly Courageous
Desk of Dennis Piller
10 26 2026
The Good Samaritan — A Living Translation of the Gospel
What if the greatest sermon you ever preached was never spoken?
What if someone encountered Jesus simply because you refused to walk past them?
I’ve been thinking about the Good Samaritan. In fact, I listened to a short message about it probably fifteen times while washing two cars. And every time, something kept percolating in my spirit. I couldn’t get away from the question Jesus was really asking.
An expert in the law stood before Jesus and asked, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?”
Jesus turned the question back to him. What does the Law say?
The man answered, love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind, and love your neighbor as yourself. (Luke 10:25–27) Jesus told him he had answered correctly. But the man wasn’t finished. “And who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:29)
Scripture tells us he asked because he wanted to justify himself.
Think about that. He knew the commandment. He knew the right answer. But apparently, he wanted to know just how far his responsibility to love actually extended.
And isn’t that sometimes us?
We love God. We attend church. We read His Word. We pray. We genuinely want to please Him. But what happens when loving our neighbor becomes uncomfortable? When that neighbor doesn’t believe what we believe, vote the way we vote, live the way we live, or even particularly like us?
Suddenly, the question becomes a lot more personal. And Jesus answers with a story.
A Jewish man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho was beaten, robbed, and left half dead. A priest saw him and passed by. So did a Levite. But a Samaritan, someone from a people historically despised by the Jews, stopped.
He didn’t ask about the man’s background, beliefs, or worthiness. He saw someone hurting, and compassion moved him to action.
He bandaged his wounds, carried him to an inn, and paid for his care.
Then Jesus turned the original question completely around. He didn’t ask, “Was that wounded man really the Samaritan’s neighbor?” He asked which of the three became a neighbor to the wounded man. The lawyer answered, “The one who showed mercy.”
And Jesus said, “Go and do likewise.” (Luke 10:37) That’s what kept stirring in my heart as I washed those cars. Lord, am I simply someone who knows what Your Word says, or am I becoming someone who lives what Your Word says?
Because loving God and loving people were never intended to be two separate expressions of Christianity. One is meant to flow out of the other.
And perhaps that’s why Jesus keeps inviting us deeper into His presence. Not simply to accumulate more knowledge, but to become more like Him.
I can almost hear His gentle invitation: Come closer, My child. Let Me teach you My lovingkindness, My grace, My mercy. Let Me heal those wounds you’ve carried so long. Come deeper into My presence, because the closer you come to My heart, the more clearly you will see the people I’ve placed around you.
Perhaps we’re walking past opportunities to show mercy because we haven’t spent enough time with the One who is mercy Himself.
The early Christians understood something about this. During devastating plagues in the Roman Empire, when many fled in fear, believers became known for caring for the sick, even those outside their faith. Christians also became known for rescuing and caring for abandoned children.
They didn’t wait for society to agree with their beliefs before demonstrating God’s love.
Their lives became a living translation of the Gospel.
And I wonder, have we sometimes become so occupied defending Christianity that we’ve forgotten to demonstrate Christ?
What if showing mercy means listening to someone whose beliefs offend us? Refusing to join in gossip? Welcoming the lonely stranger? Bringing dinner to a grieving family? Responding to anger with gentleness instead of another wound?
What if we stopped merely saying, “I’ll pray for you,” and started asking, “How can I help carry this burden?”
These aren’t just random acts of kindness. They are opportunities for Christ in us, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27), to become visible to a hurting world.
And here’s something else that challenges me. The Samaritan didn’t just feel compassion. He allowed compassion to interrupt his plans, inconvenience his schedule, and cost him something.
Love became a sacrifice. I don’t want people simply impressed by what I know about Jesus. I want them to encounter the Jesus they see living through me. Because the ultimate question isn’t how many people qualify to be my neighbor. It’s whether I’m willing to become a neighbor to the people God places in my path.
And maybe there’s an even deeper question.
If loving God with all our hearts is the greatest commandment,
shouldn’t loving others become the most recognizable evidence that we’re actually doing it?
So today, let’s ask ourselves: Who have I been walking past?
Where have I allowed differences to become barriers to compassion?
And what would it look like to cross that road?
Jesus has already answered. “Go and do likewise.”
Lord, forgive us when we’ve known Your Word better than we’ve lived it. Draw us so close to Your heart that Your compassion becomes our response, Your mercy becomes our instinct, and Your love becomes visible through our lives. Help us cross the roads that separate us from the people You have called us to love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
A final Thought: Jesus’ answer exposes how impossible it is to justify ourselves through perfect obedience. The lawyer wanted to justify himself, but the story revealed the extraordinary depth of the love God’s law requires. We need God’s grace not only to forgive us when we fall short, but to transform our hearts so we can love as He calls us to love.
My prayer is that these devotionals do more than give you something to think about… that they draw you closer to Jesus Christ, deepen your love for Him,
and encourage you to live out your faith.
If someone shared this devotional with you and you’d like to join us each week,
I’d be honored to have you with us.
Subscribe Here
If Fearlessly Courageous has encouraged you and you feel led to help us reach others, I invite you to partner with me in this mission. Every gift helps us continue sharing the message of
Jesus Christ, freely and faithfully.
❤️ Partner With Us — Give Here
Thank you for allowing me the privilege of sharing this journey with you. You are prayed for, valued, and deeply appreciated.
Who else is worthy. Claire Smith Gateway
Leave a Comment