Priorities: To See Or To Do?
A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance, a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise, a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, 'Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.'
Luke 10:30-35 (NKJV)
When the Carpenter became a Preacher, He had many to see and much to do… in a relatively brief ministry. Jesus had three small years to save the world.
Would His travel and speaking engagements,
His opportunities to reach thousands,
His critically important To-Do’s,
His urgent messages of salvation…
Upstage inconvenient people To-See?
'And behold, two blind men sitting by the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, 'Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!' ' (Matthew 20:30).
Consider His Choice: The Preacher made it a practice to pause in the life and death course He was walking--to see the people God put in His path.*
Sidebar: Prior to the convenience of cell phones, have you run out of gas or had a flat? Have you been really sick away from home? Or in some other inconvenient way, have you relied on a stranger’s kindness?
I believe SEEING the needy people our Father places in front of our eyes… can be a deal-maker or deal-breaker for our pending entry into Heaven.
Consider the dreadful consequences for placing To-Do’s ahead of To-See’s (for not offering help to the helpless):
' 'Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?' Then He will answer them, saying, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.' And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life' (Matthew 25:44-46).
These Words of Christ were His last teaching… before His Last Supper and His arrest.
Every person’s last words are important--especially His Words, God’s Word, THE Word!
Therein, God's 'To-See's' take priority over a busy Christian’s TO-DO list.
Priorities: To See Or To Do (Part 2)
* Consider The Good Samaritan: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2010%3A25-37&version=NIV
NOTE: This is a 2023 update of a 2013 Carey Lewis Devotion. You may see notes to 'Actors, Models & Talent for Christ.' If you think you're not in show business, think again. Shakespeare said, 'All the world's a stage and all its men and women merely players. Mostly true. But you're not merely players. You are messengers and ambassadors for the King of kings.