“Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the robber’s hands?” And he (the certain lawyer) said, “The one who showed mercy toward him. And Jesus said to him, “Go and do the same.” (Luke 10:36-37 NASB)
I was going to entitle this message, “Followers Follow Thru,” but I decided on the title above because it is more “right now” oriented! Where are my manners? Greetings to you on this early Sunday morning! I’m sure, whether you attend church virtually or in person, preferably the latter if you are able, you will be enlightened by the preached word sent by the Lord, much like the certain lawyer was enlightened, educated by Jesus Christ in the parable of The Good Samaritan. Before I make a major point or possibly two, let me take you back to your high school days.
In high school you took some tough courses, classes that required a great deal of study to pass the tests administered in the course. But look at the results! You passed your tests! It did not matter if it was advance math, history, high level English classes, and/or one of the required science classes, ranging from Biology to Physics. You passed the tests! And you did so by giving the correct answer. I shared with a couple of my Bible study classes this week that I took German in high school and four years in college. I was able to pass the tests at that time. But today, don’t ask me to go beyond saying “Good evening,” “Good day,” “Yes,” or “How are you?” in Deutsch (German). I had gained knowledge, but I didn’t us it, so it became extinct. Following the end of the classes, I quickly forgot my foreign language education. I also shared that I also took Family Living, a Home Economics class as an elective. I gained knowledge on how to properly set a table, but following the class, as you would see if you were to visit my house, I place the forks, knives, and spoons where it makes sense to me and not according to what the teacher, Mrs. White, taught us; different than the proper way.
Well as I said in the first paragraph, you will be enlightened by the preached word this morning. You will be educated. You will be equipped for ministry! You will be encouraged to show some growth after the service is over. You will be expected to follow through. Just as Jesus instructed the certain lawyer in the story of The Good Samaritan, we must show that we can answer the questions correctly as it applied to what we shall be taught from the word this morning, but we must go and act on the word, doing what the message pointed out to be the right thing to do. Right answers must follow right answers. Knowing what to do must be followed by doing what we know. Acknowledging truth must be followed by acting on the truth. All this must happen…following the service this morning.
Go back and read the story of The Good Samaritan again while you are waiting for service to begin. There is much more there that will change you for the better. Have a great worship experience! Stay alert! Do what you are supposed to do following today’s service! Make the closing verse your personal prayer. Be blessed!
“Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me. Deliver me from the oppression of man: so, will I keep thy precepts. Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; and teach me thy statutes.” (Psalm 119:33-135 KJV)
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King