Knocked Off Course - Don't Give Up!

 Knocked Off Course -  Don't Give Up!

Sometimes life throws you a curve ball.  Have you ever had it all figured out?  Made the right plans, finally got on course for an important goal you were excited about?  Actually started on your journey, for instance: 

• furthering your education  
• starting your dream job
• buying a house/ car, etc...
  

 

Or it might be another/ smaller feat like: working on improving a special relationship.  It doesn't matter the actual objective, just the fact that you started working on your goal.  Say you're getting good results and starting to feel great about your project when all of a sudden you get 'blindsided'.  Something happens that you didn't anticipate.  It throws you completely off course and you don't know how to fix it; you don't have the resources.  You feel overwhelmed, even hopeless, so much so that you don't want to get out of bed.  DON'T QUIT!  It's all a part of this thing called life.  Though it may seem like 'dooms day' it happens to everyone, and believe me - this too shall pass!

Luke 10: 25-37 This story is about a man who set out on a journey that he was happy about.  He had money in his pocket and was far along on his trip when he was attacked, robbed, beaten and left for dead.  Several people passed by and didn't offer to help.  (They might have thought that their reason for not stopping was legitimate.) But a very unlikely person whom he had prejudice about became the person who not only stopped to help; but also invested in his complete recovery free of charge.

²⁵ And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

²⁶ He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?

²⁷ And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

²⁸ And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.

²⁹ But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?

³⁰ And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.

³¹ And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

³² And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.

³³ But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,

³⁴ And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

³⁵ 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.

³⁶ Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?

³⁷ And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

Sometimes the people who you believe will be there to support and or help you to accomplish your goals will disappoint you.  They won't help, whatever the reason.  Still DON'T QUIT! 

THE PRIEST - Could have been going to serve his community, be running late for a meeting, or just didn't want to be seen with this wounded man.  Who knows what others might think?

THE LEVITE - Could have been going to the synagogue.  If he had gotten his clothes soiled he wouldn't be allowed to perform his duties there.  His duties were more valuable than a life. 

THE SAMARITAN - Was a political enemy.  The wounded man was a Jew.  They were of two different class systems and beliefs.   Being a Samaritan was very unpopular.  However, the Samaritan chose to treat the Jewish victim like a human, and did to him what he would have wanted for himself.  

No matter what failure you're facing DON'T QUIT! This story symbolizes that:

1. God cares about your bad experiences, your failures, and defeats. HE will never leave you nor forsake you Deutoronomy 31:6  HE always come to your rescue.  HE doesn't discriminate.  How can HE scorn what HE created.
2. God expects you to remember a time when you needed help and was rescued (by HIM).  HE expects you to do the same to another person inspite of your differences and beliefs. 
3. We all have bad days.  So help someone up on your good day because it's a cycle.  Don't break it, and DON"T QUIT!
4. Help someone because you can.  You don't have to be reimbursed.  Be a neighbor!
   
5. On your  'bad day' or 'bad season' accept help.  Being overwhelmed, failure is all a part of life.  Nothing lasts forever.  

No matter how prepared you are for a task or mission, you will never have full control of everything.  Sometimes unexpected things happen.  If and when they do, accept help and pay it forward when you get better.  Not everyone will do what you expect.  But don't forget, you disappoint people too. No one is perfect.  Get better and move on.  Always pay it forward!

TESTIMONY: Dr. Seth Postell's Testimony (I Met Messiah)

WORSHIP: Surely Now | Acoustic Session | Rock City Worship

DON"T QUIT!