THE UPPER ROOM DEVOTIONAL 18TH SEPTEMBER 2025, THURSDAY MESSAGE
Rescuing Hands
Daniel Bollinger (Missouri, USA)
Today’s Reading
Luke 10:25-37
A Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. – Luke 10:33-34 (NIV)
One evening while checking on our cattle, my dad and I found an orphaned newborn calf with one of her hooves stuck in barbed wire. She was exhausted and unable to stand. We carried her through the pasture to our car, then drove her home, worried she wouldn’t survive the night.
Our family bottle-fed the calf for over a month until she could eat grain. She grew quickly and regained the ability to walk. Now she has raised calves of her own. She still remembers my father and walks up to him to lick his shoes.
Often when all hope seems lost, God reaches out to us through others to offer a rescuing hand. Recall how the good Samaritan assisted the man who was beaten half to death: first bandaging the man’s wounds, then placing him on his donkey and taking him to an inn to receive care.
Opportunities to spread the love of God to others abound. God may direct us to help others when they are struggling with illness, addiction, grief, financial hardships, or other difficult situations. Opportunities to receive help are also all around us. We never know how a life may be uplifted when we offer loving assistance.
Today’s Prayer
Merciful God, help us to reach out to others when we witness their struggling. And may we not hesitate to reach out when we need a helping hand. Amen.
Thought for the Day
Helping others is easy when I use the gifts God has provided.
Prayer Focus
Farmers and ranchers
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More from Daniel Bollinger
The Upper Room Devotional 18th September 2025 is a daily devotional magazine published in more than 30 languages and 100 countries around the world. The daily meditations are written by readers of the magazine and others interested in sharing their faith experiences through writing—both laity and clergy, published authors and new writers. Read More
