Go and Do Likewise

Sermon July 14, 2013   Go and Do Likewise

Old Testament Amos 7:7-17

A plumb line represents a balance.

Compare the Gospel text with balance and keep this thought in your mind.

Also keep the thought of Servant hood in mind.

A priest passed by on the other side

A Levite passed by on the other side.

A Samaritan hated by the Jews did what was right.

In every age the question has been asked, “By what authority do you speak?”  Every generation is concerned about whether its leaders have the appropriate credentials to fulfill their responsibilities.

What if God called you _______ to go give a message to the President?

Amaziah mocks Amos directly, as he dismisses him and his message by saying, “ O seer, go, flee away to the land of Judah, earn your bread there, and prophesy there; but never again prophecy at Bethel”

Amos counters by saying, “ I am no prophet, nor a prophet’s son”  He asserts that he is only a shepherd and a dresser of sycamore trees.   He does not point out his degrees or his station in life to justify his call as a prophet.  He merely notes the source of the calling; “The Lord took me from following the flock, and the Lord said to me, “Go prophesy to my people Israel”

Psalm 82

This psalm displays passion for justice and a clear eyed vision of God as one who speaks and acts powerfully on behalf of God’s people. God is a almighty God but he is servant to His people.

God is always merciful to those that are less fortunate. He that lends to the poor lends to God.

The theme of today’s messages from scripture focuses on service to others.

God has always been a servant to us. Jesus came to serve. How much do we Serve God?

This psalm calls us to look to God for Vision, and to depend on God with humility as we go about seeking justice.

Epistle- Colossians 1:1-14

To be rescued from the “power of darkness” and moved to the kingdom of the beloved Son is to be transferred from the hopelessness of ignorance toward becoming a community made alive in the truth of the Word.

Hosea says my people are destroyed for their lack of knowledge….

So many Christians have a head knowledge of Jesus but it stops there.

The Word has to be IN you not just in your head.

Head knowledge is fine but it is powerless for using Faith. Faith is a force that activates the knowledge. Faith to heal the sick. Faith to move mountains. Faith that pleases God.  The God kind of Faith that can speak and see results.

I am talking about keeping the Word of God before you both day and night. Meditating on the Word of God. When a problem comes up the Word of God pops up instantly.

Rom 10:6-8 Paul says that “the righteousness which is of faith says…the word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth and IN THY HEART.”

Did the Priest have knowledge that we are to be servants to all?  Yes. But he rejected that knowledge. He had knowledge of the Word but it was not in his heart.

Did the Levite have knowledge that we are to be servants to all? Yes. But he rejected that knowledge. He had knowledge of the Word but it was not in his heart.

Do we have knowledge today that we are to be servants to all? Yes. Of Course. Why do we neglect to do so on a daily basis? Do we have head knowledge of the Word but it is not in our heart?

Paul’s assertion is that hope in Jesus Christ produces the fruits of the Christian life that are the product of Christ’s love.

Through their union with the crucified and risen Christ, the Colossians participate in a hope for salvation that entails a form of living visible in Christian community anywhere the gospel is faithfully proclaimed.

Gospel Reading ( Please Stand if Able)  Luke 10: 25-37

Todays lesson from this Gospel story is a blunt way of saying BEWARE….Pay Attention….. Look in the mirror. We can all compare ourselves at different times of our lives to all three characters in the story.

The Priest – knows to do right but does the opposite. A priest, who holds one of the highest positions in the Jewish ranks walks by and does not help the man.  Priest were not allowed to touch blood for a fear of being seen unclean and risking losing their jobs.

The Levite- the lay leadership of the Jews comes by and does nothing.

The Samaritan-The one hated and despised and the one most think would be the least likely to do the right thing did what was right in the sight of God.

Who is my neighbor?  Who are we to serve?

News reports call anyone who does a good act for someone else a good Samaritan. For many of us the story is all too familiar….

We pass by the stranded motorist out on the freeway changing a tire in the pouring rain.  Should I stop or is it a trick? So much has happened that is bad we have become fearful of helping the stranger.

I hope the light stays green long enough to avoid being confronted by the man holding a cardboard sign, while taking a load of teenagers on a ski trip.

We avoid the elderly lady down the street walking her dog because we know that thirty minutes later she will still be talking about how hard her husband had worked to get the yard in order and now look at all those weeds. “Can’t do things like I used to,” she’ll say.

Is the story of the good Samaritan just about guilt?  Is it like the commercials that disrupt our favorite television show and display starving children in developing countries or malnourished and abused animals?

No, the story is not about guilt.  The Lawyer has one simple question, “Teacher, what must I do to gain eternal life?”  Notice the words  I  and Gain.

Does the story of the good Samaritan stem from the root of selfish intent?  Is the Lawyers question self=centered?  Is reward of eternal life the motivation for helping someone?

Perhaps the lawyer really wanted to understand the way of righteousness. Maybe he had a similar goal of Jesus to usher in the Kingdom of God.

Remember the story of the rich young ruler?  Go and sell what you have and give to the poor. There is no such command on the Lawyer….just the story to reflect on what it meant.

As we reflect on the story we put ourselves in each of the characters trying to make sense of it.

It gives hope for the broken and gives purpose to the powerful.

Jesus said he did not come to be served but to serve.

IN VBS the children learned how we can serve God. Loving our neighbors whoever they may be is a good start. V.36 which of the three was neighbor unto him that fell among the thieves? “He that shewed mercy…..Jesus said:  Go and do likewise.