“A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho when he fell into the hands of robbers…” (Luke 10:30b, BSB).

I was on the seventh out of 10 miles running this morning. Ahead was a car parked against the curb on the wrong side of the street. As I approached, I saw a mass on the sidewalk that eventually became a body curled up in blankets and not moving. A concerned man was standing on the curb looking at the body. “Are you alright?” he asked, and the body on the sidewalk mumbled. I stopped and touched the sidewalk man and repeated the question. He repeated more clearly, “I’m fine.” To be certain, I told him, “Please move around a bit so we can know you are okay.” He did and was obviously in no medical distress, so I left him there with the other man and ran on. It took less than half a mile for God to tell me I had sinned.

I had done what was helpful for the man on the sidewalk but not what was needed.

How slow I am to learn.

I have told before the story from my missionary days when I was driving back from a small church in Sanubi, giving student pastors a ride to their dorm. We passed a man with no legs scooting along the dusty road, propelling himself forward with wooden blocks in his hands. I stopped, gave him some money and told him that God loved him, then got back in the car and rode on. I gave that man something helpful but not what was needed. I gave that legless man money and a mention of God, but he needed a ride.

Just so today: I did what was helpful for the sidewalk man, made sure he did not have a medical emergency, but he needed far more. I should have worked with the man in the car. I should have asked about food, transportation and shelter. I should have sought ways to share Christ in a meaningful way.

Why did I not?

Part of it was an issue of character. I had a place to go and time to get there. My focus was on my plans rather than the man who needed me.

However, there is a deeper spiritual issue here. My heart and mind were there, but God’s was not.

Why did the mind of Christ not pour out of me with one more question, “What can I do to help you?”

Why was the heart of Christ not strong enough within me to stop my own pursuits to help one whom He loves?

I need to repent. I need to change. I need to be changed.

Do you?

Dear God,

Continue to change me. Give me your heart and your mind. “Thy kingdom come…my kingdom done.”

Amen