Post by Les on Aug 13, 2022 14:04:40 GMT -5
Monstro the Gold Fish By Elisa Morgan
Click here for the Audio Message
Love your neighbour as yourself.
Luke 10:27
Today's Scripture & Insight:
Luke 10:27–37
Lacey Scott was at her local pet shop when a sad fish at the bottom of the tank caught her eye. His scales had turned black and lesions had formed on his body. Lacey rescued the ten-year-old fish, named him “Monstro” after the whale in the fairytale Pinocchio, and placed him in a ‘hospital’ tank, changing his water daily. Slowly, Monstro improved, began to swim and grew in size. His black scales transformed to gold. Through Lacey’s committed care, Monstro was made new!
In Luke 10, Jesus tells the story of a traveller who was beaten, robbed and left for dead. Both a priest and a Levite passed by, ignoring the man’s suffering. But a Samaritan—a member of a despised people group—took care of him, even paying for his needs (Luke 10:33–35). Pronouncing the Samaritan as the true “neighbour” in the story, Jesus encouraged His listeners to do the same.
What Lacey did for a dying goldfish, we can do for people in need around us. Homeless, unemployed, struggling and lonely “neighbours” lie in our path. Let us allow their sadness to catch our eyes and draw us to respond with neighbourly care. A kind greeting. A shared meal. Financial aid slipped from palm to palm. How might God use us to offer His love to others, a love which can make all things new?
Reflect & Pray
How can you reach out to others in a neighbourly way? What can you do for people in need around you?
Dear God, thank You for making me new! May I be a neighbour to those who desperately need Your care in order to be transformed by You.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Samaritans, a people group formed from the intermarriage of Israelites and gentiles brought into the land by the Assyrians, only accepted the first five books of Moses as Scripture and rejected other tenets of traditional Jewish faith, such as worship centred in Jerusalem (the Samaritans’ worship was centred at Mount Gerizim).
Tensions between Jews and Samaritans ran high. In choosing a Samaritan as the hero of His now-famous parable (Luke 10:25–37), Jesus brilliantly challenged His listeners on who their neighbours were.
Monica La Rose
Luke 10:27-37
King James Version
27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.
29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?
30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.
33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.
36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?
37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
Click here for the Audio Message
Love your neighbour as yourself.
Luke 10:27
Today's Scripture & Insight:
Luke 10:27–37
Lacey Scott was at her local pet shop when a sad fish at the bottom of the tank caught her eye. His scales had turned black and lesions had formed on his body. Lacey rescued the ten-year-old fish, named him “Monstro” after the whale in the fairytale Pinocchio, and placed him in a ‘hospital’ tank, changing his water daily. Slowly, Monstro improved, began to swim and grew in size. His black scales transformed to gold. Through Lacey’s committed care, Monstro was made new!
In Luke 10, Jesus tells the story of a traveller who was beaten, robbed and left for dead. Both a priest and a Levite passed by, ignoring the man’s suffering. But a Samaritan—a member of a despised people group—took care of him, even paying for his needs (Luke 10:33–35). Pronouncing the Samaritan as the true “neighbour” in the story, Jesus encouraged His listeners to do the same.
What Lacey did for a dying goldfish, we can do for people in need around us. Homeless, unemployed, struggling and lonely “neighbours” lie in our path. Let us allow their sadness to catch our eyes and draw us to respond with neighbourly care. A kind greeting. A shared meal. Financial aid slipped from palm to palm. How might God use us to offer His love to others, a love which can make all things new?
Reflect & Pray
How can you reach out to others in a neighbourly way? What can you do for people in need around you?
Dear God, thank You for making me new! May I be a neighbour to those who desperately need Your care in order to be transformed by You.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Samaritans, a people group formed from the intermarriage of Israelites and gentiles brought into the land by the Assyrians, only accepted the first five books of Moses as Scripture and rejected other tenets of traditional Jewish faith, such as worship centred in Jerusalem (the Samaritans’ worship was centred at Mount Gerizim).
Tensions between Jews and Samaritans ran high. In choosing a Samaritan as the hero of His now-famous parable (Luke 10:25–37), Jesus brilliantly challenged His listeners on who their neighbours were.
Monica La Rose
Luke 10:27-37
King James Version
27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.
29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?
30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.
33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.
36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?
37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.