Nashville, Tennessee, United States - The Upper Room Daily Devotional “When Plans Change” for Saturday, 8 November 2014 - Scripture: Luke 10: Defining “Neighbor”
25 Just then a religion scholar stood up with a question to test Jesus. “Teacher, what do I need to do to get eternal life?”
26 He answered, “What’s written in God’s Law? How do you interpret it?”
27 He said, “That you love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and muscle and intelligence—and that you love your neighbor as well as you do yourself.”
28 “Good answer!” said Jesus. “Do it and you’ll live.”
29 Looking for a loophole, he asked, “And just how would you define ‘neighbor’?”
30-32 Jesus answered by telling a story. “There was once a man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho. On the way he was attacked by robbers. They took his clothes, beat him up, and went off leaving him half-dead. Luckily, a priest was on his way down the same road, but when he saw him he angled across to the other side. Then a Levite religious man showed up; he also avoided the injured man.
33-35 “A Samaritan traveling the road came on him. When he saw the man’s condition, his heart went out to him. He gave him first aid, disinfecting and bandaging his wounds. Then he lifted him onto his donkey, led him to an inn, and made him comfortable. In the morning he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take good care of him. If it costs any more, put it on my bill—I’ll pay you on my way back.’
36 “What do you think? Which of the three became a neighbor to the man attacked by robbers?”
37 “The one who treated him kindly,” the religion scholar responded.
Jesus said, “Go and do the same.”
The human mind plans the way, but the Lord directs the steps.(Proverbs 16:9 (NRSV))
Peggy was home on furlough, and I looked forward to having coffee with her. When she didn’t arrive on time, I wondered what was keeping her. I knew she didn’t have a cellphone and couldn’t contact me. Eventually, I began to lose patience. Finally she arrived, appearing unhurried, and she apologized for the delay. She explained she had been talking with someone who revealed a deep need. Peggy took “our” time to respond, trusting that I would understand.
Admiration replaced my annoyance. Like the good Samaritan, Peggy did what she could to bring comfort to someone in need. I asked her, “But how did you deal with your own feelings about being late?”
Peggy replied, “I’ve learned to trust God to take care of it on the other end.”
Now when, through no fault of my own, I’m running late and have notified others of my dilemma, I’m learning to believe God is at work wherever I am heading. Oftentimes, I learn the persons affected were either delayed themselves, or something came up to make the change welcome. Delays are inevitable, but we have a choice; we can either act with frustration or believe that God is directing our steps. Choosing to trust God’s timing produces peace.
The Author: Ellen M. Cardwell (California, USA)
Thought for the Day: Today’s plans are subject to change at God’s direction.
Prayer: Dear Lord, we put today in your hands. Help us believe that you will order our lives as we trust you with them. Amen.
Prayer focus: To be open to interruptions
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