The question for today comes from Luke 10:29.
“Who is my neighbor?”
Jesus challenged a lawyer to love his neighbor. The lawyer then asked “Who is my neighbor?” Why would he ask such a thing? He was not looking for a lesson, he was hoping for a manageable answer. He wanted boundaries—something neat and tidy. Instead, Jesus handed him a story. A man left for dead. A priest who passed by. A Levite who looked the other way. And a Samaritan—an outsider—who crossed the road and showed mercy.
Jesus didn’t define “neighbor” with rules. He defined it with love.
The real question isn’t “Who is my neighbor?” It’s “Will I be one?” That’s where the challenge lies. Being a neighbor means more than liking those who look like us or live near us. It means loving whoever needs us.
It’s easy to love the lovable. But what about the overlooked? The hard to help? The ones who drain our time and test our patience? Jesus says: love them too. Be the one who sees. Be the one who stops. Be the one who crosses the street.
Love doesn’t ask for qualifications—it looks for need. And mercy doesn’t calculate cost—it just gives.
Today, let’s stop asking, “Who qualifies for my care?” and start asking, “How can I care for the one in front of me?”
I’m Lonnie Davis, and these are thoughts worth thinking.