Scripture:
Luke 10:30-35
Sat, 13 November 2021

Love in Big and Small Ways

Observation:

What observations can you make about the lengths to which the Samaritan went to show compassion to the half-dead man?

Deeper Reflection

ON CLOSER OBSERVATION, we marvel at the Samaritan’s compassionate and intentional acts of service to the badly wounded man.18 By stopping to tend to the man, the Samaritan exposed himself to the risk of being robbed, since the road from Jerusalem to Jericho was a dangerous route during the time of Jesus.19 The first aid he administered was carefully done – with oil he relieved the man’s pain and with wine he disinfected his wounds. Then he strenuously lifted the man’s full body weight up onto the back of his riding animal (presumably a donkey). For the rest of the journey to the nearest inn, the Samaritan walked on foot while the slumped man was carried by his donkey. At the inn, he took intermittent rest while he attended to the man. The following day the Samaritan paid the innkeeper to care for the man and gave an undertaking to bear all the expenses necessary for the man’s well-being, before leaving for some days to settle his personal matters. When faced with a similar situation of need today, some Christians may say that they do not have the resources to go the extra mile. What Timothy Keller wrote is pertinent: “God calls some people to more extensive ministries by giving them desire, ability and opportunity”.20 So for those of us whom God has given much resources, let us do more to bless those in need. For others who have less resources, let us nonetheless do what we can.21 May Christ’s incomparable love for us compel us to do even small things with great love for people in need!


18 They remind us of the famous quote by Mother Teresa: “The fruit of love is service, which is compassion in action”.
19 The ESV Study Bible, Personal Size, ESV Bible (Crossway, 2008), 1977 (see notes on 10:30 Jericho).
20 Timothy Keller, Ministries of Mercy: The Call of the Jericho Road, Second Edition (P&R, 1997), 78.
21 As Mother Teresa said, “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.”
Application:

In what ways can I go the extra mile for people in need (whether through planned regular actions or unplanned ones in everyday life)?

Prayer:

Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures.

Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise:
  • Pray for Church Board: That the Church Board and New Life Board will be visionary leaders and wise stewards in our church’s social action for the good of our neighbouring communities
  • Pray for significant people:
  • Pray for those in need:
  • Pray for self:

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Daily Devo
Daily Devotional Journal
Scripture:
Daniel 10:11-12, 14-19
Tue, 26 September 2023

A Man of High Esteem

Observation:

What significant observations can you make about Daniel being called “man of high esteem” (vv.11, 19)?

Deeper Reflection
One of the heavenly beings called Daniel “man of high esteem” (v.11). This honour was bestowed on Daniel emphatically, in that it was repeated twice (v.19). This “high esteem” did not come from man, but from God Himself. God gave this honour to Daniel toward the end of his life when God called him to “enter into rest” (Dan 12:13). As a youth, Daniel “made up his mind not to defile himself with the king’s choice food” (Dan 1:8), and as an old man, he was faithful to God in spending time with Him in his “three times a day” devotion, even if it means to be thrown into the lions’ den (Dan 6:10). Daniel was finishing well in his life with “humbling yourself before your God” (v.12). When we think of finishing well in terms of successful accomplishments, we must be careful that we are not exalting ourselves.It is not for us to see ourselves in any way as a person of high esteem before God. It is for God to say that to us (2 Cor 10:17-18). Daniel never saw himself as a “man of high esteem”. A key emphasis in Daniel 10 is Daniel being greatly overwhelmed by the holiness and glory of God represented by the heavenly being with an awesome appearance (Dan 10:5-10, 15-18). And it was in this encounter with God when he was called “man of high esteem” that Daniel said, “How can such a servant of my Lord talk with such as my Lord?”50 (v.17). The man highly esteemed by God saw his unworthiness before God.
50 I have theologically translated “my lord” to “my Lord”, since the heavenly being is a representation of God.
Application:

What does being highly esteemed by God mean to me?

Prayer:
Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise
  • Pray for pastors and staff: To be able to see oneself as God sees
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for those in need
  • Pray for self

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