The Good Samaritan? AKA Us (Christians) To be Christ like

Recently my husband and I  had the opportunity of spending some time at a youth, group home near the city.  My first trip  there to visit was a few weeks prior and upon driving up to the facility my older kids who were going to drop me off refused to leave me there alone.  So that should give you an indication of the feel of the place.  Outside the facility were around 20 young boys, playing basketball, or just hanging out.  Entering into the facility there were beds randomly placed with a desk and a few couches.  There were also cafeteria style tables for them to eat at.  The place had a odor, curtens were stained and had mildew on them.  Fast forward, today we went to the home  to visit a young man who has now been in over 43 placements.  We got the opportunity to take him to lunch and out to pick up a few things he wanted.  We had a great time! After visiting for a few hours we drove off and went back into our little world.

As most of you know God has been awakening a burden in our hearts for those in youth homes and foster care who WILL age out and be alone.  We are in the process of opening our home up for a few of them.  This is the first step towards a much larger vision. God has been impressing upon us to build a faith based therapeutic group home,  where we can cover these young people in prayer, and equip them to live a Christ centered productive life.  Our vision includes a group home, as a landing place,  to help transition and stabilize them, and then several family homes built on our property where they can then be moved into a family setting.

I was praying the other day and asked God to confirm the word to me.  He led me to  Luke 10. The story of the good Samaritan.  I had this mental picture of the boys outside the group home.  Surely, they have been robed, abused, broken,  many pass by without lifting them up.  But one passed by and pored in the oil and the wine, bound his wounds, and paid for his care.  I read on, and Jesus said, " who was a neighbor to this man ? " and they answered,  "the one who cared for him."  Jesus said," Go and do likewise!"


I guess I feel a need to ask?  Which one are you?  The religious leaders who pass on bye, or the Samaritan who risk it all to be a true neighbor?