In Need of Rescue 需要救援
Dexu Xia
In Need of Rescue
A Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. Luke 10:33
A teenager named Aldi was working alone on a fishing hut anchored about 125 kilometers (about 78 miles) off Indonesia’s Sulawesi Island when heavy winds knocked the hut off its mooring and sent it out to sea. For forty-nine days, Aldi drifted in the ocean. Every time he spotted a ship, he turned on his lamp to try and get the sailors’ attention, only to be disappointed. About ten ships passed the malnourished teen before he was rescued.
Jesus told a parable to an “expert in the law” (Luke 10:25) about someone who needed to be rescued. Two men—a priest and a Levite—saw an injured man as they were traveling. But rather than help him, both “passed by on the other side” (vv. 31–32). We aren’t told why. Both were religious men and would have been familiar with God’s law to love their neighbor (Leviticus 19:17–18). They may have thought it was too dangerous. Or perhaps they didn’t want to break Jewish laws about touching dead bodies, making them ceremonially unclean and unable to serve in the temple. In contrast, a Samaritan—who was despised by the Jews—acted nobly. He saw the man in need and selflessly took care of him.
Jesus wrapped up His teaching with the command that His followers should “go and do likewise” (Luke 10:37). May God give us the willingness to risk reaching out in love to help others.
Who has Jesus put in your path that needs your help? How can you put your love into action today?
God, open my eyes to the needs around me and give me Your heart of compassion for others
需要救援
惟有一个撒马利亚人行路来到那里，看见他就动了慈心。—路加福音10章33节
十八岁的阿尔迪独自在距离印尼苏拉威西岛海岸125公里的渔棚工作。一天，海上突然刮起强风，将固定渔棚的绳索摧毁，使阿尔迪连同渔棚一同落入茫茫大海。阿尔迪在海中漂流了49天，每逢看见船只经过，这个急需救援的孩子就会亮起灯，试图引起对方的注意，但结果都是失望。最后，大约10艘船过去了，才有一艘船将面黄肌瘦的阿尔迪救了起来。
耶稣曾对一个“律法师”（路加福音10章25节）讲过一则需要救援的寓言故事。有一个人被强盗洗劫打伤，倒在路旁极需救援。祭司和利未人经过看见了他，都没有驻足帮助，反而从旁边绕过去（31-32节）。我们不知道他们为何不给予援助，因他们都是敬虔的人，也都应该熟悉上帝的律法，就是要去爱邻舍（利未记19章17-18节）。我们只能推测，他们可能认为太危险，或是不愿意打破犹太律法中不能碰死尸的规定，那会使他们在礼仪上不洁净而不能在圣殿里服事。相反地，一个被犹太人鄙视的撒马利亚人却有崇高的行为。他看见这人需要救援，愿意无私地照顾他。
讲完这个寓言之后，耶稣吩咐祂的跟随者“去照样行吧”（路加福音10章37节）。但愿上帝赐给我们这样的爱心，愿意冒险伸出援手去帮助别人。
上帝，请祢开启我的眼睛，让我能看到周遭有需要的人，并求祢让我也能以祢的怜悯之心待人。
耶稣将哪位需要你帮助的人放在你人生的道路上？
今天你如何将你的爱付诸行动？