Passing Up the Church On the Way to the Sanctuary

Luke 10:30-37 tells the story of a nameless man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho. As he traveled this dangerous and winding road, he was accosted by some thieves. They stripped him, wounded him and left him half dead. As he lay there, along came some religious figures who simply looked upon this man in what may have been his most vulnerable state and decided to keep on going.

After these "religious figures" decided to "pass up the church on their way to the sanctuary", along comes a Samaritan. This man was considered an outcast in many segments of society but yet he had the love of God at work in his heart. He picked his fellow traveler up, tended to his wounds, got him to a safe haven and assumed liability for all of his bills incurred during recuperation.

This, my friends, is the real work of the church.

We are called upon by God to have compassion for the hurting and destitute. We are also called to do something about their pain.

To all who have named the name of Christ, ask yourself this question, "Am I passing up the church (God's people) on the way to the sanctuary (buildings and institutions)?