As He Was Traveling

Don't you love how little things pop out at you as you read? And in the Bible, we know because God said in the Bible, that that is the work of the Holy Spirit. This morning as the men's bible study I meet with was talking through love, we visited the story of the Good Samaritan. I know a lot of people know that story, I've heard it since I was very young. But today, something stood out. Let me paste for you the contents of the Scripture:

25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.” 

29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two denariic and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.” - Luke 10:25-37 (ESV)

Ok, again, you've probably heard it. But as we were talking about how to love others and what that looks like, some keywords popped out. And it all starts with verse 31: "Now by chance." The second and third characters of the story show up by chance. The greek also has the meaning of "by accident." In other words, this was not where they planned to be, not the situation they expected to face. Two people groups who should have great interest in helping others, yet walk on by. The Samaritan, the one who actually helps? How does he get introduced? "As he journeyed." He had a place he was heading to. He knew where he was going. He wasn't aimless. And it seems, as he went, this was not something beyond his thinking to respond to. He was intentional, the priest and Levite were aimless and accidental.

How often do I live my life in accidental direction? How often do I wait for God to "accidentally" show up in my life? He could. He will, if He so chooses. But while that might happen, where am I going? What is my intention?

As I thought about this, I almost titled this post the "Purpose Driven Person," but there's a book on that... And I don't know, that author may have gone to this passage. I haven't read it, but it wouldn't be the first time God has brought something to my mind that someone else has. But just in case this does tread on that, it was not intentional. Just my own observations.