Devotional: Good Work- Love Without Limits
“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
— Luke 10:36–37 (NIV)
We live in a world more connected than ever before — phones, screens, and messages reaching across time zones in seconds. Yet, somehow, it feels like we’ve never been more divided. The story of the Good Samaritan reminds us that the heart of following Jesus is learning to bridge those divides, to love across boundaries, and to show mercy even when it’s uncomfortable.
When the religious expert asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” he wasn’t looking for clarity. He was looking for limits. He wanted to make love manageable — to draw a line around who he had to care about and who he could safely ignore. We do the same thing sometimes. We draw invisible boundaries around our compassion. We say, “I’ll love them if they think like me, vote like me, live like me.” But Jesus demolishes those lines.
In the parable, the Samaritan crossed every social, racial, and religious divide to show mercy to a man who, under normal circumstances, would have despised him. Jesus turns the story upside down by making the Samaritan the hero — the one who loved beyond the boundary line.
Here’s what’s even more powerful: Jesus isn’t just telling us to be the Good Samaritan. He’s showing us that we were the traveler on the road. We were broken, beaten by sin, and left for dead. Christ was the One who stopped, bandaged our wounds, and carried us to safety at His own expense.
When we remember that Jesus was the better neighbor to us, it changes the way we see others. Suddenly, loving our neighbor isn’t just a command — it’s a response to grace.
To love without limits doesn’t mean we ignore truth or pretend differences don’t exist. Jesus never did that. But it means we lead with compassion, speak truth with gentleness, and see people as God sees them — image-bearers worth saving.
Questions for Reflection
Have you ever found yourself setting boundaries on who you’re willing to love or forgive?
What might it look like for you to “go and do likewise” in your neighborhood, workplace, or circle of friends?
When have you experienced Jesus as your “better neighbor” — the One who rescued you when you couldn’t help yourself?
How can you show mercy this week to someone who might be outside your comfort zone?
Prayer
Lord Jesus,
Thank You for being my neighbor when I was broken, lost, and in need of mercy. Help me to see others the way You see them — not as interruptions or opponents, but as people You love. Teach me to love without limits but never without truth. Give me the courage to cross boundaries, to offer kindness where there’s tension, and to reflect Your heart in how I live.
Amen.
Dig Deeper
Loving our neighbor isn’t about being nice; it’s about reflecting Christ. True love steps toward the hurting, the difficult, and even the undeserving, because that’s exactly what Jesus did for us.
Let’s be a church known for this kind of love — a love that reaches beyond comfort and changes the community around us.
