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By Austin Bishop

25 And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

26 He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?”

27 So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’ ”

28 And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.”

29 But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

— Luke 10:25-29 (NKJV)

The question posed in verse 25 is one we have likely pondered at some time in our lives. Exactly what does it mean to be saved? How can I assure myself of a place with God in Heaven? Verse 27 holds the gist of the answer.

If we follow through with verse 27 and love the one and only true God with all our heart, the rest will fall into place. We will receive Jesus into our hearts, we will walk in the Holy Spirit, and we will serve Him.

It’s love our neighbor that is sometimes tough. And it is likely that all of us have asked the same question that the lawyer posed in verse 29, hoping to narrow down those we should love.

In the verses that follow Jesus tells the parable of the Good Samaritan, teaching us that our neighborhood is likely a lot larger than we expected and that opportunities can be found in many places — even in ditches.

We are to love God, help others, and not look for excuses along the way.

In essence we must become ditch workers, looking for our neighbors in need, while others simply walk on past. Deciding who to help is easy, it’s the one in the ditch. We won’t see them if are only focused on those walking along side of us on the narrow way and aren’t keeping an eye on the ditches.

Take a hard look at Galatians 6:1-2. It tells us that if we find someone in doing wrong our responsibility is to seek to restore then in a spirit of gentleness.

As you are “ditch working” be careful not to take on a “look what I’m doing” attitude. Philippians 2:3-4 tells us to not be conceited in our actions but to move in humility and put others above ourselves.

Matthew 25:40 reminds us that what we do for the “least of these” we are doing for Him.

Be a person who truly walks in faith, seeking to do the work God has put before us. You never know just what precious soul you my find in a ditch today.

Austin Bishop has been a journalist for 50 years and is an ordained minister. Those wishing to receive his daily devotional/Bible study notes may sign up by texting 601-938-2471 and asking to be added to either the morning or afternoon list. He can be reached by e-mail at starsportsboss@yahoo.com.