“‘Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among robbers?’
He said, ‘The one who showed him mercy.’
And Jesus said, ‘You go, and do likewise.’”
— Luke 10:36-37 (ESV)
We tend to think of our neighbor as the person who lives next door. However, according to Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan, our neighbor may not live anywhere near us. They may not have the same background as we do or be from the same culture.
In the case of millions of refugees, our neighbor may not have a home at all.
Much like the man in Jesus’ parable, countless refugees worldwide — in places such as Syria, Iraq, Kenya, and South Sudan — have been threatened, abused, shunned, and forgotten. Someone needs to stop and help them … and that someone can be you.
The Good Samaritan didn’t let religious or ethnic background differences stop him from saving the man on the road. He saw someone battered and broken. So he stopped, crossed the street, and helped without thinking what it might cost him.
Ivan is a pastor in a Ugandan refugee camp. He has seen countless refugee children flee for their lives and arrive with nothing but the clothes on their backs. He tries to provide whatever aid he can, but his resources are limited. That’s why your support is vital.
“The person that the Bible calls ‘neighbor’ is not only the one that sleeps next door to you,” Ivan explained, “but they are the person that is in need.”
Jesus called us to aid the injured and care for the needy even if we think we have nothing in common with them. But, in reality, we have one crucial similarity: we’re all in need of a Savior.
When Jesus came to save us, He didn’t simply cross a street. He left a heavenly throne and gave everything He had to show us a practical love. He could have held us at a distance, but instead He loved us passionately and welcomed us into His family.
Today, He commands us, “You go, and do likewise.”
All it takes it $35 for you to become a Good Samaritan to one refugee. Your gift will provide emergency food, clean water, medical attention, and more. You’ll also provide the hope of the Gospel to a refugee child by sending a storybook Bible.
Today, you can send practical love to your neighbor in need.