You Go And Do Likewise

You Go And Do Likewise                               09-29-17

Luke 10:37 (ESV)

And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”

My post this week is not an original thought. Most in fact are not. lol. It was sparked by a couple of stories (true) that were told me this week past. Let me see if I can relate them to you. A friend of mine had a conversation with a close friend of his. They were talking about all the upheaval that we as a nation and the world in general is forever going through. Of course all the various causes and  protests took center stage in the conversation.They each shared their convictions and thoughts on the matter. Then my friend's friend shared a profound conviction. He said he was considering opening up his home,the place where he and his family live,to an immigrant family or individual,I can't remember which. His point being the fact that he had a couple of extra bedrooms in his house and instead of TALKING about the plight of some people,he felt it incumbent to DO something about it,as best he knew how.When I heard this,all I had were these words... that was and is the REAL DEAL. Put your own description in. WWJD, or any of the host of other cliches that work. And herein lieth the lesson.

As my friend told me this amazing story I was reminded of a prominent politician from a few years back. A household name that you would recognize immediately. I remember this politician getting behind a microphone and scolding people for their lack of concern for the immigrants and preached that we all should be more tolerant and sensitive to their plight.Acceptance and tolerance, if memory serves, were the words he used.Implying that how could we as Americans,turn a blind eye and a deaf ear to the plight of those that were seeking asylum in OUR neighborhoods?  Now that was all well and good. I could not really argue with his premise although I did not totally agree with his proposed solutions. But, I went along as best I could until.........until.....................until what Ronnie? Until I was taken on a video tour of his neighborhood and house. His GATED neighborhood
with a high fence around his house. Some say ten or twelve feet high. My concern after hearing his preaching at us common folk was just this...is the fence to keep him in or to keep others out? Anyway back to my original story.

As I considered what my friend had told me about what his friend was considering I was reminded of the above verse. "You go and do likewise" Who said that again? Oh yeah...
it was JESUS. Jesus said that! "You go and do likewise"

Here is what the world and it's minions will tell you. Fill in this blank.

"Ronnie,you go and............likewise."

Talk,stand,kneel,protest,burn,hate,desecrate, on and on and on and on and on..................
ad nauseum.

Brothers and sisters,it is easy to protest the injustice suffered by others and DEMAND that something be done to ease their plight as long as SOMEONE ELSE DOES IT!!!!! Can I get a big AMEN? Those that point a critical finger at others.....those that stand up and tell US what WE should be doing......and how WE should be feeling.............. can easily do so as long as they have NO SKIN IN THE GAME!!!!! YA FEELIN' ME HERE? However,it always seems to THIN OUT the crowd when the demand is made of THEM. The screams of criticism grow strangely dim when the summons and the cost,both physical and material is laid at THEIR doorstep.

Folks my point is just this. Jesus Christ the Lord cut right to the chase didn't he? He saw past the hypocrisy that we as humans ALL (yours truly included) possess. He went straight to the HEART of the matter did He not? The friend of my friend in the above story has got it right. That is the REAL DEAL. Instead of pointing a finger,taking a knee,standing for this or that, he considered actually DOING something to help a fellow human being in need. No fanfare. No T.V. cameras.What did Jesus say again?

"You go and DO(CAPS MINE) likewise. Ronnie,just WHAT was Jesus telling us,ME AND YOU to do? Well, I held that out on purpose until now. As Paul Harvey used to always say"...and that's the rest of the story." Look at this.

Luke 10:30-37 (ESV) ³⁰  Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead.
³¹  Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side.
³²  So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.
³³  But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion.
³⁴  He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him.
³⁵  And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’
³⁶  Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?”
³⁷  He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”

That my brothers and sisters is what Jesus would do.


Psalm 123:3-4 (ESV) ³  Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us, for we have had more than enough of contempt.
⁴  Our soul has had more than enough of the scorn of those who are at ease, of the contempt of the proud.


God Bless