Romans 12:9-21, Luke 10:25-37 (1 Corinthians 16:14)
Love as a fruit of the Holy Spirit carries within it acts of service. Just as love cannot be forced and/or enforced, acts of service that come out of love cannot be forced or enforced too. Out of a loving heart, acts of mercy and service to other people are like pure water that bubbles out of a fresh water spring.
Such acts are pure and refreshing to the soul. Love shown even to the hardest of hearts brings forth a willingness to engage and have fellowship. As a fruit of the Holy Spirit, love is to be shared with all and sundry, even those who ordinarily will be seen as undeserving.
The parable of the Good Samaritan is to teach us that anyone can show love, and everyone merits receiving love because it comes from God. In the parable two men, a Priest and a Levite passed by and didn't attend to the dying man.
Being faith leaders, they would have been expected to show love to the man but they did not. Accordingly, their religious status didn't allow them touch a bleeding and dying man (Leviticus) otherwise they would have to undergo ritual cleansing according to the Law. However, more than that Law, they failed to see this injured man as one bearing the image of God whom they served. A most unlikely candidate, a Samaritan man stopped, picked up the injured man and took care of him.
The world today needs the kind of love as portrayed by the Samaritan. This is the kind of love that emanates from deep within the heart. It doesn't look at the race or ethnic background, gender or social class or religion. All that is necessary is that there is someone in need, and another who is willing to help. Acts of mercy are a spontaneous response to another's needs. Compassion and hospitality are what the Samaritan used to help save the life of the badly injured man.
Our world is full of people demanding a genuine love even when they aren't ready to offer the same to others. The man who asked the question that Jesus answered in a parable, was looking for a way to justify his lifestyle. He wanted to confirm that he could get to heaven by means of keeping the Law. As a teacher of the Law he already knew what the Law stated. Yet he still asked Jesus about it. To answer him Jesus introduced love to the discussion and asked him to love like the Good Samaritan had done. This was a difficult thing for the man to accept.
In order for us to live in love and compassion, we need to adhere to what the Apostle Paul writes, “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honour. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.
Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. (Romans 12:9-12).
