“But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him” (Luke 10:33).

“She must have her mother’s eyes.”  “He has his father’s ambition.”  “You take after your grandma.”

Isn’t it amazing how different features and traits get passed down from parent to child?  Some people really enjoy seeing how a child takes after his or her parent.  What about you?  Who do you “take after”?

In the parable of the Good Samaritan there’s a sharp contrast between the Levite and Priest who “passed by on the other side” and the good Samaritan who stopped to help out the man lying half-dead on the road.  He didn’t wonder WHO his neighbor was, rather, he sought how to BE a neighbor to whomever needed his help.

Whom do we “take after”?  Are we guilty of being selective in whom we offer our help?  Are we guilty of “taking after” the self-centered ways of the world in our dealings with other people?  The sad reality is…yes, we have.

And because that’s true, say a prayer of thanks to God today that our salvation is NOT based on what WE do!  Praise the Lord that Jesus was always the perfect “Good Samaritan” for us, in our place!  Praise the Lord that through the water and word of baptism you were given the gift of faith and brought into God’s eternal family!

And as God’s child, you get to live as His child!  You get to serve others selflessly!  You get to be a neighbor to anyone who needs your help!

And…as you do…more people get to know what our God is like!  For as you are selfless, kind, and serving, you “take after” your heavenly Father.  And God works through you and your acts of kindness and service to others to help those in need!

Honored to “take after” my heavenly Father, just like you,

pastor