“‘Now which of these three would you say was a neighbour to the man who was attacked by bandits?’ Jesus asked. The man replied, ‘The one who showed him mercy.’ Then Jesus said, ‘Yes, now go and do the same.’” — Luke 10:36–37 (NLT)
In the last devotion, we explored what it means to be an ambassador for Christ — someone who carries His presence and message into everyday life. Today, Jesus invites us into a second role: being a neighbour like Him.
D. L. Moody once illustrated this beautifully. While others debated strategies for reaching people, Moody simply stepped outside, gathered a crowd through song, and shared the gospel. He didn’t wait for the perfect plan. He didn’t overthink it. He acted with compassion and intention — the very heart of being a neighbour.
Jesus captures this same spirit in the parable of the Good Samaritan. A man is beaten and left for dead. Two respected religious leaders see him but pass by. They may have had reasons — busyness, fear, ritual concerns — but the result is the same: they didn’t help.
Then comes a Samaritan, someone considered an outsider and enemy in Jewish society. Yet he stops. He tends the man’s wounds. He lifts him onto his own animal. He pays for his care. He doesn’t just feel compassion — he acts on it.
Jesus ends the story with a simple but piercing instruction: “Go and do the same.”
Being a neighbour like Jesus isn’t about geography. It’s not limited to the people who live next door or the ones who look like us, think like us, or share our background. It’s about seeing need and responding with mercy. It’s about stepping toward people rather than away from them. It’s about letting compassion interrupt our schedules and reshape our priorities.
Your neighbourhood is as wide as your willingness to care.
Being a neighbour like Jesus might look like:
- Noticing someone who feels overlooked
- Offering practical help when someone is struggling
- Listening without judgment
- Showing kindness when it’s inconvenient
- Crossing social or cultural boundaries to love someone well
Being a neighbour like Jesus will cost something — time, energy, emotional investment, maybe even resources. But it will also transform you. Proverbs says those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. When you pour out mercy, you receive mercy. When you give compassion, your own heart awakens.
Jesus doesn’t call us to admire the Good Samaritan. He calls us to imitate him.
And what will you do now?
What might being a neighbour like Jesus look like in your daily life this week?
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