Go and Do Likewise — Showing Compassion in a Divided World

Scripture Focus

Luke 10:25–37 > “The one who showed him mercy. 

Jesus told him, Go and do likewise.”

💬Devotional Thought:

   - Scrolling through today’s headlines can feel overwhelming. Division, violence, and loneliness fill our feeds. But nestled in Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan is a radical call: don't just care—cross the road.

The priest and Levite passed by. The Samaritan stopped, stooped, and served. That’s compassion with a pulse—not a feeling, but a decision.

Mercy isn’t sterile—it’s messy, inconvenient, and sometimes uncomfortable. But it’s also life-changing.

🧭Real-Life Analogy:

   - One busy morning in Lagos, a man collapsed near a crowded bus stop. The rush of commuters barely slowed—most turned their heads and kept walking. But one woman paused.  

She knelt beside him, offered water, and stayed until help arrived. Later that day, she visited him at the hospital to check on his recovery. She wasn’t a medic or first responder—just someone who chose compassion over convenience. She crossed the road.

When was the last time you crossed the road to help someone?

📌Biblical Depth:

Let’s go deeper:

- Deuteronomy 30:14 reminds us: “The word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.”  

  Compassion isn’t distant—it’s built into who we are.

  

- Colossians 1:19–20 tells us that through Christ, “God reconciled all things to Himself, making peace by the blood of His cross.”  

  That means every act of mercy is not just social—it’s spiritual. Reconciliation starts with us.

And don’t forget: this parable was Jesus’ response to the question “Who is my neighbor?” But He flips the lens and asks—“What kind of neighbor are you?”

🧠Reader Reflection Prompt:

       ➡️ Comment below:  

Who have you overlooked that God might be calling you to “see” with compassion?  

Share a name, a role, or a short story. You never know who your words might inspire.

💮Community/Digital Mercy Challenge:

  _ This week, be a Good Samaritan in disguise:

- 📞 Call someone you’ve been meaning to check on,

  

- 💬 Send a message of encouragement to someone grieving,

 

- 🎁 Buy a stranger lunch or pay for a ride,

  

- 🙌 Share this devotional with a note: “Thinking of you today.”

Tag your act with #GoAndDoLikewise so we can watch mercy ripple across our community and the digital world.

🔥Weekly Mercy Mission:

  - This week, mercy isn’t optional—it’s the mission. Take one moment, one action, that costs you comfort but gifts someone hope. Because compassion doesn’t trend—it transforms.

🙏Prayer:

Lord, break my patterns of passivity. Let me see the wounds I’d rather ignore. Give me the courage to cross the road, and the grace to offer healing. Amen.

🎵Worship Moment: 

"God of Justice" by Tim Hughes.

To deepen your reflection, let this worship song stir your spirit:

"We must go, live to feed the hungry  

Stand beside the broken, we must go…"

This isn’t just a melody—it’s a mission. As you listen, let God move your heart from awareness to action. Mercy isn't a feeling—it's a step forward.

👉Click here to listen on Spotify.

👉Watch it on YouTube.