In the time of Jesus, the road from Jerusalem to Jericho was notorious for its danger and was known as the "Way of Blood" because of the violent robberies that took place there.  Martin Luther King Jr., in his "I've been to the Mountaintop" sermon, described the scene:

"I remember when Mrs. King and I were first in Jerusalem.  We rented a car and drove from Jerusalem down to Jericho.  And as soon as we got on that road I said to my wife, 'I can see why Jesus used this as the setting for his parable.'  It's a winding, meandering road.  It's really conducive for ambushing.

And you know, it's possible that the priest and the Levite looked over that man on the ground and wondered if the robbers were still around.  Or it's possible that they felt that the man on the ground was merely faking, and he was acting like he had been robbed and hurt in order to seize them over there, lure them there for quick and easy seizure.  And so the first question that the priest asked, the first question that the Levite asked was, 'If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?'"

King continues:

"But then the Good Samaritan came by, and he reversed the question: "If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?"

And with this statement King spoke, and still speaks, directly to the two important questions at the heart of the parable of the Good Samaritan:

"Who is my neighbor?"  And "What should a neighbor do?"

Today, January 11^th, is National Human Trafficking Awareness Day.

In honor of the day, we thought we would share with you several ways you can LEARN, LIVE, and LEAD a life that seeks justice!

LEARN

Get in the Loop

Join the Not for Sale Campaign’s e-distribution list to stay aware of opportunities for joining in the fight against injustice, both in the United States and around the world.

Download the App

International Justice Mission recently released an IJM Mobile App – to take you closer to the frontlines of their important work than ever before.  The app is available for FREE in the iPhone App Store and the Android Marketplace.

LIVE

Act on What You’ve Learned

Join the social justice committee at your local church.  If there isn’t one, consider starting one with other community leaders.  Check with missions coordinators for insight about how to establish a local outreach program in your community of faith.

Read…and Act

Select one of the following books and host a book club to learn how people have put their compassion into action to combat injustices around the globe: 

Rally Your Block

Organize a get together such as a block party with your neighbors, and invite a local outreach coordinator to be the speaker.  Ask him or her to explain opportunities that exist in your own neighborhood for fighting for others’ basic human rights.

Host a Justice Meal

Have your church or ministry team host a simple meal and ask the participants to make a donation that will be given to a local organization that works for justice in your community.

You can also find some of these ideas, and MANY more, in the "start> Becoming a Good Samaritan" Participant’s Guide, written by start> founder Mike Seaton, with Ashley Wiersma.

 “He picks his nose, snorts loudly, rambles on an on about nothing, and I don’t want to talk to him.”

That was my thought as I saw Kevin enter the bookstore where I worked.  Kevin (not his real name) was a regular customer, and every time he visited I did everything I could to avoid him.

Great attitude for someone who calls himself a Christian, don’t you think?

Great attitude for someone who has been a leader in several ministries, don’t you think?

That moment, as a bookstore employee, and as a follower of Jesus…

Kevin was, to me…unlovable.

It hurts to be honest with myself like this.  To look at this situation and speak truthfully about what was going on. 

God has called his followers to represent Jesus Christ not only to people who look like me, talk like me, walk like me, vote like me…or even hold the same attitude toward personal hygiene as me…

God has called his followers…me...to represent Jesus Christ to every man and every woman who needs his care.

People like Kevin…

Question:

Who are the “Kevins” in your life?

Who have you considered unlovable?

I’d like to challenge you to think about it, and to think about what it means to represent Jesus to those people.

Not because I am someone pointing my finger at your shortcomings.

But because I can see Kevin in my mind, and it hurts. 

It hurts, doesn't it?

But it doesn’t have to hurt in the future.   Together we can love our neighbors, and love our “Kevins.”

We can choose today to start>

 “With what shall I come before the Lord and bow down before the exalted God?  Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old?  Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil?  Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?”  Micah 6:6-7

With what do you come before the Lord and bow down?   

Your perfect church attendance for the last year?  

The fact that you have never said a cuss word?  

How great your kids behave? 

These are some of the calves, rams, and rivers of oil we offer, and there are many more.

Listen to what the prophet says:

“He has showed you, O man, what is good.  And what does the Lord require of you?  To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”  Micah 6:8

Followers of Jesus are to act justly, because God is just.

Followers of Jesus love mercy, because God is merciful.

Followers of Jesus are to walk humbly with their God, because God is holy.

How have you seen these character traits played out in your life? 

Take a few moments and finish the following sentences:

I’ve seen God’s justice when…

I’ve seen God’s mercy when…

I’ve seen God’s holiness when…

At the beginning of 2011, a year promising many Good Samaritan opportunities, I would like to ask you to take a moment and join me in offering a prayer of thanksgiving and commitment to God:

"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend.  Inside of a dog it's too dark to read." Groucho Marx

Okay, so you are either chuckling, or are thinking "That's disgusting!"

Either way, i thought I would share five start> book recommendations for 2011.  If you choose to read any of the books listed this year, I will be praying that they will help you grow in your love for God and your love for your neighbor.

 

QUESTION:

 “I can neither meet the needs of everyone in the world nor take anyone’s needs lightly.”  Lynne Hybels, author, speaker, and activist

A recent article in Good magazine attempted to sum up the state of the planet Earth.  And while the article mentioned harsh details about the challenges presently faced, including a tumbling economy, ongoing war, pandemic diseases, widespread hunger and disabling poverty; the author’s conclusion carries much hope with it:

“The global problems are larger than before, but our capacity to meet them is larger still."

As the New Year begins, I’d like to invite you to explore what it means to move from creed (what you believe) to deed (how you act in response to your beliefs) on behalf of those in need around you.  If every man, woman, and child who is a follower of Jesus will join together and fight against today’s biggest threats, we can begin to show the world what the Kingdom of God looks like.

Your choices matter.  Choose today to start>.