One of the first Sunday School Bible stories I remember was about three men who walked down a dusty road on their way to a city named Jericho. They all passed a fourth man who had been beaten, robbed and left for dead. Each of the three travelers was presented with the same unique opportunity, but only one bothered to seize that opportunity. We do not know his name. He has been known for 2,000 years only as the Good Samaritan.
"Good Sam" may have been a commercial traveling salesman or businessman. After all, he had a donkey carrying his wares and he knew where the local hotel was. In fact, he was planning on passing by that hotel on his return trip. He was generous with his money. He was not afraid to get involved with the public.
The thing that impresses me about this traveler was that he got involved! He did not stay on the sidelines applauding the players. He became a player, he joined the action. Little did I realize that many years ago when I knelt at a church altar (as many of you have) telling God that "I would go where he wanted me to go and do what he wanted me to do," that God would open many doors of opportunity through which such a promise could be lived out. As a young convert I thought that God's call to Christian service was somehow connected with trumpet blasts or angels flying in the sky. That we just floated off to a life of dedicated service somewhere in the world, probably next door to Hudson Taylor in China or David Livingston in Africa.
Well, while you are waiting for the trumpet blasts, rainbows, or angels flying in the sky, you have the best training ground for missionary service that you would ever want to discover right in front of you. You can be like the first two travelers going to Jericho if you want to - they were probably listening for a trumpet blast announcing God's call upon their life, and didn't pay much attention to the messed up fellow lying in their path. Or, you can become a "Good Sam" and take advantage of circumstances that unfold before your eyes every day. You see, there are wounded and bruised travelers all around you, every day you walk the roads of life. Some disguise their pain and hurt pretty well, but they are hurting inside as much, or more, than those who are wounded on the outside.
Only you can decide whether or not to get involved in the lives of the bruised and battered men and women you see on the sides of your roads. But, if you do, your life will be changed for the better, and you will make a difference in the lives of hundreds of people who need a friend in their time of desperation.
"Good Sam" may have been a commercial traveling salesman or businessman. After all, he had a donkey carrying his wares and he knew where the local hotel was. In fact, he was planning on passing by that hotel on his return trip. He was generous with his money. He was not afraid to get involved with the public.
The thing that impresses me about this traveler was that he got involved! He did not stay on the sidelines applauding the players. He became a player, he joined the action. Little did I realize that many years ago when I knelt at a church altar (as many of you have) telling God that "I would go where he wanted me to go and do what he wanted me to do," that God would open many doors of opportunity through which such a promise could be lived out. As a young convert I thought that God's call to Christian service was somehow connected with trumpet blasts or angels flying in the sky. That we just floated off to a life of dedicated service somewhere in the world, probably next door to Hudson Taylor in China or David Livingston in Africa.
Well, while you are waiting for the trumpet blasts, rainbows, or angels flying in the sky, you have the best training ground for missionary service that you would ever want to discover right in front of you. You can be like the first two travelers going to Jericho if you want to - they were probably listening for a trumpet blast announcing God's call upon their life, and didn't pay much attention to the messed up fellow lying in their path. Or, you can become a "Good Sam" and take advantage of circumstances that unfold before your eyes every day. You see, there are wounded and bruised travelers all around you, every day you walk the roads of life. Some disguise their pain and hurt pretty well, but they are hurting inside as much, or more, than those who are wounded on the outside.
Only you can decide whether or not to get involved in the lives of the bruised and battered men and women you see on the sides of your roads. But, if you do, your life will be changed for the better, and you will make a difference in the lives of hundreds of people who need a friend in their time of desperation.
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