Topic: GO AND DO LIKEWISE – Bishop Mike Okonkwo Devotional 10 July 2021 [The Redeemed Evangelical Mission]
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GO AND DO LIKEWISE
‘’And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.’’ Luke 10:37 KJV
The Samaritan didn’t just dump the wounded man at the inn, but he paid every bill. “And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee” (Luke 10:35 KJV).
Notice that the Samaritan didn’t say he was lending him the money. He knew that the man had been wounded and battered. Everything he had was taken from him. We need to learn to reach out to people who need help. Just to make a phone call to new converts is a load of work for some of us Christians. You see, people don’t care how much you say you preach and what you profess. They want to know how much you care; that is what they are concerned about.
At the end of the parable, Jesus asked a question: “Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves”? (Luke 10:36 KJV). Who is the real neighbour? Is it the person you sit together with in church or your choir member? The true neighbour is the one who shows mercy. God has been merciful to you; so, step out and show mercy to others.
Mercy is God not giving to you the judgment you deserve. You messed up, you were supposed to be kicked on the nose, but mercy said no because of what grace did. What mercy does is to give you another chance. What that Samaritan did was to show mercy. He didn’t ask him, ‘’why did you leave Jerusalem? If not, you wouldn’t have fallen into the hands of robbers.’’ The first thing was to get him healed, unlike the religious ruler. Make up your mind to start practicing mercy. Reach out to someone today. Encourage someone! Give a smile! Give a helping hand. That is what you are called to do.
Further Reading: John 12:23-26, 15:11-17
Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Job 41-42; Evening- Acts 16:22-40
