Kids Blog-Love the LORD your God and love your neighbor
Last week, kids learned about loving our neighbors!
Bible verse: He answered, "'Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" Luke 10:27
Bible story: The Parable of the Good Samaritan Luke 10:25-37
In this story, an expert in the law asked Jesus a question, "Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus replied, "What is written in the Law?" He answered, "Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and Love your neighbor as yourself." Jesus replied, "Do this and you will live." But he wanted to justify himself so he asked Jesus, "Who is my neighbor?" Jesus did not directly answer the question. Rather than giving him a list of whom the man should love, Jesus responded with a parable to help him understand.
A man was traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest was going down the same road, but when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. A Levite also passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, saw the man, he went to him and bandaged his wounds, put him on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. He even gave money to the innkeeper and said, "Look after him, and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have." Jesus told the expert in the law to go and do likewise as the Samaritan did.
The Samaritan was a good neighbor to the man in need and demonstrated love with action. Just as the Samaritan helped the man that was dying on the side of the road, God saved us when we were dying spiritually in our sin. God did not pass by on the other side of the road. He sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins and saved us. In the same way, God calls us to love others and help those in need just as God has shown love and compassion to us. So this week, let us remember how God has loved us and find a way to show love to a family member, friend, neighbors, or stranger!
Image: www.lambsongs.co.nz.