Luke 10:31–32 (CSB)
A priest happened to be going down that road. When he saw him, he passed by on the other side. In the same way, a Levite, when he arrived at the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.
Have you ever had your plans interrupted by people in need? If you choose to live your life under the Kingdom authority rule of Jesus, you can count on Him to purposely send hurting people into your busy life to interrupt your plans.
In the story of the Good Samaritan, the priest and the Levite are preoccupied with serving God. The setting of this story is the road from Jerusalem to Jericho. Many of the priests and Levites who served in the temple lived in Jericho and were on two-week rotations serving in the Temple.
If they were traveling the Jericho Road to go serve in the Temple and came across someone who had been stripped, beaten, and left half dead, they would find themselves in a conundrum. If they stopped, helped, and touched a man who was bleeding, they would be ceremonially unclean and unable to serve in the Temple (see Lev. 22:3).
It would be like if you were asked to lead worship or give the sermon at your church on a hot summer Sunday morning. As you're driving to church, you see someone broken down on the side of the road, and you have the capacity and ability to help them. But if you do, you're going to get dirty and sweaty and most likely will not make it to church on time to serve.
As you consider this scenario, think about what Jesus said. “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40, CSB). The convenient thing to do is to just drive by, like the priest and the Levite, and keep your commitments to serve your church.
You will discover that in Kingdom living, rarely is the right thing also the easy thing. Waking up extra early every morning for prayer and devotions is not easy, along with all the other disciplines of seeking first the Kingdom of God, such as Bible study, fellowship, worship, communing with God, and serving others. These aren't difficult in and of themselves; the challenging aspect is developing the self-discipline to be consistent. Why? Because the world, the flesh, and the devil are constantly driving you to be too busy to seek first the Kingdom.
As you follow Jesus, you will face “Jericho Road” moments where your path will intersect with someone in desperate need. These interruptions are not just minor inconveniences; rather, they are divine appointments set up by the King of the Kingdom of God to give you the chance to show those in need God's compassion.
As you seek first the Kingdom of God, be prepared for divine interruptions, knowing that God's purposes may not align with your schedule. These interruptions are going to compel you to get your hands dirty, forfeit your comfort, and maybe even pass up opportunities that seem important.
You must be willing to embrace the interruptions and not see them as obstacles but as opportunities for Kingdom living. As you consider this today, make it your prayer that God will stir in your heart a desire to slow down, to care, and to show love to those in need. It might just be that in these unplanned moments, you encounter Jesus in the most profound ways you've ever experienced. It's often in the moments where your faith is stretched, your compassion is challenged, and your plans are put on hold that your understanding of Kingdom priorities is sharpened.