One of the things I appreciate about these daily devotions is that the author slows us down as we look at the parables. Today he points us to a phrase I typically would rush right past when reading, "by chance." "Now by chance a priest was going down that road ...." At one level, the phrase simply serves to set up the irony of the story. A priest happens to be going by, then a Levite, (another religious man from the tribe of Levi), and neither of these supposedly righteous men stop to help. Then comes the Samaritan, hated by the Jews, who is the one to stop and help. How ironic that these three happen to be on that road, and that the one most despised is the one who helps.
On a deeper level it makes us think about why certain things take place at certain moments in our lives. Luck? Misfortune? Coincidence? God directed? I personally don't believe that God controls every action and event in my life. God has given me free will after all, and I make hundreds of choices every day, as do you. Some may be good, others bad, but they are my choices. At the same time, I do believe that God is present and active in my life. I've had countless "God incidences" where, for reasons I cannot fully explain, I believe the guiding hand of God has placed me for a reason. A non-believer might call it chance, but I see it as God's guidance for a particular purpose.
Whether you agree with that or not, I think the author's final point cannot be questioned. "Not debatable, though, is the truth that when an opportunity comes to show compassion, we are meant to take it." How true. In what ways will you show compassion today?
I agree! I have never before noticed the phrase "by chance." Whether an opportunity is God-appointed or the result of our free-will decision, the important thing is that we jump right in to be part of God's loving plan instead of choosing to walk away from a holy moment. God's will will be done, no matter what we do, but we do have the choice to be part of His will or stay on the sidelines.
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