Do you walk a fine line? Do you attempt to balance your life between two desires? Do you attempt to spend equal time with family and your job? Do you seek to help those on the margins while maintaining your standing with your friends? How is that going for you?
Straddling the fence, walking the line, being caught in the middle is tough. It is especially tough when we desire to help those on the margins while continuing to hang out with the same friends we have had for years. It is harder if our friends believe those on the margins don’t deserve our help.
Though the disciples had seen Jesus perform many miracles and heard many of His teachings, they still had their prejudices. As Jews, they did not like Samaritans. Jesus walked along the border. Galilee on one side and Samaria on the other. No doubt the disciples looked in disgust toward Samaria. They likely did not like the idea of walking along the border.
It got worse for the disciples. They, along with Jesus, were approached by ten men. Based on the rest of the story, most if not all of them were Jews except one. That one was a Samaritan and Jesus would interact with him. The disciples would have been appalled, just as they were when Jesus interacted with the woman at the well.
Our friends may feel the same way if we interact with the homeless, sick, someone from a different culture, or whomever they consider offensive. Knowing we are faced with such potential opposition from our friends, we may decide to forgo pursuing our desire to help. It is only with the strength and courage given to us by the Holy Spirt that we can follow in Jesus’s footsteps, helping those on the margins without our friends’ support.
I pray we all choose to follow in Jesus’s footsteps. I pray we lean on the Holy Spirit for the strength and courage we need. I pray each one of us will help those on the margins in our society. Follow Jesus. Lean on the Holy Spirit. Help those on the margins. Stand strong.
Luke 17:11 On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee.
Marty Pressey 