Live With Love

LOOK AGAIN: Is Good Samaritan Ministries a non-profit work or is it more?

This week, as we hold our hearts and minds open to new insights, let’s take another look at the parable of the Samaritan. In the many years I have been a part of Good Samaritan Ministries, I have often returned to the parable to freshen my memory of the original call of the Lord.  In Philippians 4:19 Paul states  “My God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”  From the perspective of the Inn being His Father’s House, I can see that the Samaritan son was fully trained to recognize un-met need and to respond quickly without thought for himself first. In the parable the Samaritan had all that was needed to give first aid to the victim.

So I ask myself, is Good Samaritan Ministries a non-profit work or is it more than that?   I have come to the conclusion that GSM is a way of life.  To live the life of a Samaritan is to accept that the Lord is preparing us to meet the needs of others as we move through our lives.  At any given time He will open our eyes to the needs that He has prepared us to meet.  We are at His service and we are fully prepared.  Do we wake up each day with the recognition that we are fully prepared to “do all things as unto the Lord”?  (Col. 3:23) When we go to our jobs do we go to work “as unto the Lord”?  When we sit down to rest do we do so “as unto the Lord”?  Do we pay our bills “as unto the Lord”?  Do we donate to needs “as unto the Lord”?

In the Samaritan parable, others passed by the victim.  It was the Samaritan that was prepared to act outside the planned agenda for the day.  He was the one who could flex in the midst of need.  In the GSM ministry we are often asked to do just that for the sake of meeting the immediate true needs of others.  We must live our lives in such a way that we remain aware each day that we are part of a team that is prepared to take action.  We have been given the Inn, the provision of materials and funds, the hands to do the work, and the promise of continued supply.  Our Father is generous.  My question to myself and to you is, are we in full participation with this effort?  If we are, I want to say I am so blessed to be a part of this with you.  If we are not, I so long for you to join us fully in this wonderful adventure of recognizing un-met need and responding quickly, without first thinking of ourselves – the way of the Samaritan.

As always, may the Lord bless you and keep you in His Way.

Elsa Jane

Editor’s Note: Have you met Elsa Jane? Drop in to pray and meet her at the annual GSM International Day of Prayer meeting Sunday, June 2, 6 am to noon. She faithfully served as the Uganda Satellite Leader for more than 20 years and has traveled to Africa many times.