Go and Do Likewise
Month 6: Stories Jesus Told · Loving Others
Today's Scripture
Read together: Luke 10:34-37 & 1 John 3:17-18
34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Take care of him,’ he said, ‘and on my return I will repay you for any additional expense.’ 36 Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” 37 “The one who showed him mercy,” replied the expert in the law. Then Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” — Luke 10:34-37
17 If anyone with earthly possessions sees his brother in need, but withholds his compassion from him, how can the love of God abide in him? 18 Little children, let us love not in word and speech, but in action and truth. — 1 John 3:17-18
Memory Verse
“He answered, “‘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 ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’””— Luke 10:27 (BSB)
📖 Bible-in-a-Year (optional)
Today's reading: Psalms 51-53
Reading the whole Bible in a year — do this when you have extra time. (Around Day 163 of 365 — David's broken-hearted prayer, "Create in me a clean heart, O God.")The Heart of It
Look closely at how the Samaritan loved, because Jesus is teaching us the shape of real love. It wasn't a quick wave of pity. He went near. He bandaged the wounds, pouring on oil and wine. He put the man on his own animal and walked. He brought him to an inn and took care of him through the night. The next day he paid the innkeeper two days' wages. And he promised, "Whatever more you spend, I will repay." That's love that costs time, comfort, money, and follow-through. John says the same thing without a story. "Whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?" And then comes the line to write on our hearts. "Let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth" ().
Then Jesus turned to the lawyer and said two words that turn the whole sermon into a mission. "Go and do." He didn't say "Go and feel sorry." He didn't say "Go and admire this story." He said do likewise. Loving others is never finished as long as it stays an idea in our heads or a warm feeling in our chests. It becomes love only when it puts on shoes. So today, as a family, let's not just talk about being a good neighbor. Let's pick something and actually do it. Real love always has hands.
Around the Table
The kind man didn't just feel sad. He did things. He gave bandages, a ride, a warm bed, and money to help. Love does stuff!
Let's do it: Together, pick ONE kind thing to do today. You could draw a card for someone, share a toy, or help with a chore. Do it before bed.
Jesus said "Go and do likewise." He didn't say just feel sorry. The Samaritan's love cost him time and money.
Let's talk: What's one kind act that would actually cost you something, like your time, your snack, or your turn? Could you do it this week?
Count all the things he did. He went, bandaged, set the man on his own animal, brought him to an inn, took care of him, paid, and promised to return. Love in this story is concrete and costly. It's love "in deed and in truth," not just in words ().
Let's go deeper: Where is your love mostly words right now? What would it look like to turn one of those into action this week?
💬 Conversation Starter
If our family planned one "Good Samaritan mission" this week — one real act of help for someone — who would it be for, and what would we do?
🛡️ Defending the Faith
Some say faith is a private, invisible thing. But Jesus ends His most famous story with a command. "Go and do." And John says love proved only in words isn't real love at all. Christianity that never reaches the hands isn't shy faith. By the Bible's own measure, it's incomplete faith ().
For Dad · Go Deeper
"Go and do likewise" is the hinge from hearing to obeying, and it's where discipleship most often stalls in our homes. We are tempted to mistake a moving family devotion for actual obedience. We feel that because we discussed love warmly, we have somehow loved. Jesus closes the loophole. Dietrich Bonhoeffer warned against "cheap grace," a faith that admires Christ's words without ever stepping out to obey them. "Only he who believes is obedient," he wrote, "and only he who is obedient believes." The two can't be separated. The most powerful thing you can do this week is to make love concrete with your kids. Choose a real person, make a real plan, spend real resources, and follow through together. Children who only ever hear about love grow cynical. Children who practice it with their parents grow conviction. Let the doing be visible, shared, and a little bit costly. That's how a value becomes a virtue.
Draws on: Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship.
Let's Pray Together
"Father, thank You that Jesus loved us all the way. He didn't love us with words only. He loved us with His life. Help us not just talk about love, but do it. Show us someone to help, and help us follow through. In Jesus' name, amen."
Love isn't real until it puts on shoes. So go and do likewise.