DAILY PRACTICE September 1, 2025 Issue

What will I do today?

We could be called on to help someone at any time, in any situation, as in the case of Jesus’ parable of the Samaritan.

George Strong

Over the years, as I’ve studied the Bible in light of the teachings of Christian Science, I’ve come to realize that the question “What will I do today?” is not mere idle wondering. My decisions about what to do are likely to have an effect on me and the people I meet. This has always been true.

Take, for example, the Bible story (see Luke 10:25-37) in which a man asks Jesus, “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus answers by asking him, “What is written in the law?” and confirms his response, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God . . . and thy neighbour as thyself” with, “Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.” But when the man asks, “Who is my neighbour?” Jesus shares a parable about a traveler who is beaten, robbed, and left by the side of the road. A priest and a Levite pass by without stopping, but a Samaritan stops, tends to the man’s wounds, and takes him to a nearby inn, where he can be cared for.

Jesus made it plain that care for others—meeting people’s immediate needs—is something we should do.