Do Something!

Reading of the Word

Colossians 3:17 NASB 2020

Whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

Prayer of Illumination

God of Light,

As we gather this Sixth Sunday of Easter,

illuminate our hearts and minds with your truth.

Guide us as we study your Word,

and empower us to live it out in love.

May your Spirit inspire us

to shine your light in the world.

In Jesus' name, Amen."

Introduction

Who’s good at making excuses? If you are sitting next to someone who is really good at making excuses, raise your hand! Here are some good excuse ideas in case you are running low:

1. I’m too busy right now. 2. I don’t have liability insurance for that. 3. My life is too complicated at the moment. 4. I never signed up for that. 5. I’ve got laundry piled up at home right now.

In some ways, the story of the Good Samaritan is a story about choices and excuses. Some things we want to do. Some things we ought to do. And some things we ought to do, but we don’t want to do! Isn’t it true that when we don’t want to do something we ought to, we start looking for excuses.

In the story of the Good Samaritan, three characters are faced with the same situation. They each see the same victim, and each has the ability to respond.

There are no good excuses for not obeying God’s call to help others.

The priest was the first character to make an excuse. What are some possible excuses the priest may have had?

What about: “I’m too tired. I’ve been working hard for God all week.” You may have heard the famous quote from Vince Lombardi that “fatigue makes cowards of us all.” I can’t become unclean by touching the unclean.”

The Levite was the next excuse maker to come along the road and view the victim. Perhaps, “I’m too tired” or “I am too busy” or “My family is waiting for me to come home.

There are no good excuses for not obeying God’s call to help others. We are called to live for God’s glory with an attitude of thanksgiving. Making excuses not to obey is a form of idolatry. It is making an idol out of our comfort and putting that before obeying God and bringing him glory in our lives.

Making excuses not to obey is a form of idolatry. It is making an idol out of our comfort and putting that before obeying God and bringing him glory in our lives.

How do we avoid the easy road out and instead take excuses and turn them into blessings? Here are some thoughts on this:

1. Do what you can.

You can only do so much but DO SOMETHING!

Don’t be a spectator.

We are human and have limitations.

Even Jesus endured the physical limitations every human has while a human on earth.

He got tired, he had to eat and drink to strengthen his body, he had to sleep, he had to pray, he felt pain.

Do what you can, even in bad circumstances and never be afraid to ask for help.

God’s divine providence has placed you in that circumstance for that specific time to bless others and help them.

You are called and placed by God to be at this place at this time and God wants to use you to reach others when they need it the most.

A woman happened upon a traffic accident in which a lady was pinned inside her vehicle. Someone had already called emergency services, and rescue workers were en route with the hydraulic tool that could bend the metal that was trapping her inside the car. Before the rescue workers arrived, the woman held her hand and prayed with the trapped lady until she was freed from the vehicle. Looking back on that traumatic event, the trapped lady reported that she not only appreciated the emergency workers but also greatly appreciated the unknown woman who held her hand and prayed with her. She called her an angel because she brought her the comfort desperately needed at the time.

Ask God to show you what to do.

Maybe it is just to pray for or with a needy person. To say hello and give someone a smile. To call or text someone with a message of encouragement. Be the one to listen as someone just needs your presence.

I keep showing you the small things each week because it really is that simple to make someone’s day.

All Jesus asks of us is to do our very best to help to the best of our ability.

The Samaritan couldn’t do it all. Jesus is telling us through this parable that neither can we.

We do what we can then allow someone else to assist. They are placed there by divine providence to pick up from where you left off.

2. Don’t let your plans become idols.

The first thing that came to my mind when I thought of the word idol was American IDOL.

Consider a devoted fan of "American Idol" whose life revolves around the show, from voting for contestants to idolizing judges and winners. Despite its entertainment value, their obsession crosses into idolatry, displacing devotion to God.

This illustrates how easily we can idolize aspects of culture—celebrities, possessions, ambitions—drawing us away from true fulfillment. The message urges self-reflection to identify and relinquish these false gods, refocusing devotion on the one true God who offers lasting fulfillment.

Anything can become an idol if we let it.

We can make an idol out of something good.

We let it become an obsession.

It takes over our life. We think, breathe, act and worship this idol. It leaves room for nothing else.

This can lead to neglecting personal relationships, hobbies, and self-care activities.

It draws us away from the things of God.

Church

Our daily walk with Jesus

In the end, it draws us completely away from God.

Some examples of idols

Planning

Planning is a good thing. Some of you need more of that good thing! Planning is the key to being more productive. Still, planning can become an idol if we are unwilling to change our plans when divine providence directs. Whatever your plans are, recognize that God is Lord over your plans. If his divine providence places you in a new situation, your plans need to change to fit that new situation. Plans can be and must be altered to fit God’s new direction.

Some of you act like changing your plans is such a great sacrifice! It is when we only have self as the focus.

Our plans become more important than God’s plans. Many times, we see through a dim view but still think our plans are better.

If that is you, realize that you are making your plans more important than obeying the Second Great Command to “love your neighbor as yourself.”

The plans I had as I came to this church have been thrown out the window. But I was open to God changing them, even though I planned.

Always leave room for God to change our plans.

“God has permission to change my plans.” Post that somewhere. You may have your day all planned out, but God may have a different plan. You and I need to be ready to pivot if God presents a need that changes our plans. Providence is when God is at work through circumstances to guide us to a different plan. James had to address this because of the arrogance of those who made plans an idol.

James 4:13–15 NASB 2020

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.” Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. For you are just a vapor that appears for a little while, and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.”

Work - People will overwork, make their financial security upon their job, our identity becomes work instead of who God created us to be, work takes priority over everything else, we miss out on the most important things of life.

Sports - A great example of this was found in 2 football games this past playoffs. Buffalo in snow and Kansas City -30. Yet the stadiums were full.

Activities - They take up every moment that you have. Family time is eliminated because there’s always something going on. Your children don’t have to participate in everything. I’ve told students to focus on one thing they really have a passion for and put all your effort there so you can thrive instead of doing average is 3,4,5 different things.

3. Prioritize the needs of your neighbor.

We all have needs. We all have laundry that needs to be done. We all have something we want to do with our time. But when providence takes us into a needy situation, we ought to change our priorities in response.

Helping the needy always means a change in priorities. The Samaritan changed his priorities when he saw the needs of the victim. That was what Jesus was commending about the Samaritan: his love for his neighbor changed his priorities. “Love your neighbor as yourself” means prioritizing your neighbor's needs as much as you prioritize your own.

4. Do whatever glorifies God in the name of Jesus.

Paul taught the Colossian believers a principle that applies to many situations: And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Our words and deeds are to be done in the name of Jesus for the glory of God the Father and with an attitude of thankfulness to God.

What does it mean to serve “in the name of Jesus”? It means we are serving in the place of Jesus, in the way that Jesus would serve if he were physically here.

Serving in the name of Jesus should be reflected in how we serve: Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters (Colossians 3:23). Our service to others is also our service to God. That service is to be done with a good attitude, reflecting how much we love the Lord and how much we care for others.

When we serve in the name of Jesus, we are putting his fingerprints on our actions. We are serving with his hands and feet, as he would do it. When you and I help our neighbor because Jesus has called us to love them, we bring glory to his Name.

5. Religious duty cannot be an acceptable excuse for ignoring the needs of our neighbor.

Our choices are usually not between “good” and “bad” but between “good” and “best.” The “good” can become the enemy of the “best.” The “best” is following God’s new direction, not sticking with our previous “good” direction.

The priest and the Levite may have been committed to doing some good religious duty. Maybe they thought their calling to be a priest or Levite was fulfilling God’s plan and performing their religious duty to God. But Jesus didn’t agree. Their good became the enemy of their best. Helping their neighbor was their best religious duty. Sometimes following God means interrupting other good religious duties.

To Sum it Up: Excuses never are accepted by Jesus. Stay alert to God’s leading so that you may act and be a blessing to others.

Conclusion

Jesus commended the Samaritan for changing his plans and priorities, getting off his animal, and making the personal sacrifices to bind up the wounds of the victim. We all commend the Samaritan and admire his actions, but Jesus didn’t stop there. He said, “Go and do likewise.” This is where the story gets personal. We are no longer talking about a Samaritan two thousand years ago. We are talking about you and me today.

Jesus said, “Go and do likewise. He’s talking to you. “Go and do likewise.” He’s talking to me. “Go and do likewise.” He’s talking to our church. “Go and do likewise.” Jesus is commanding us to engage our neighbor in his name!

I will go and do likewise. I will bless our community. LET IT BEGIN WITH ME!

Prayer After Sermon

Precious Savior, As we reflect on your word proclaimed to us today,

we acknowledge the excuses we have made

that hinder us from fully glorifying you.

Forgive us for the times we have allowed fear, doubt, or complacency

to hold us back from stepping into the greatness

you have called us to.

Help us to let go of our excuses

and to trust in your power and guidance.

Empower us to walk boldly in faith,

knowing that with you, all things are possible.

May the message we have heard today

ignite a fire within us to live wholeheartedly for you,

bringing glory to your name in all that we do.

In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen."

Benediction

"May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,

the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit

be with you all as you go forth from this place.

As we journey into the week ahead,

may the teachings we have received today

inspire us to live lives of faith, courage, and love.

May we go forth with hearts renewed,

ready to embrace each opportunity to glorify God

by loving and serving others.

And may the peace of God,

which surpasses all understanding,

guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Go in peace, to love and serve the Lord.

Amen."