Title: Unstoppable Missionary Work / Luke 10:25-37
Last year, on Mission Sunday, I preached a sermon under the title "Let's Take Care of Our Neighbors in Need", focusing on the main text. On Mission Sunday this year, I had a sermon with the same text and a different title, "Mission that cannot be interrupted." Of course, even before that, I remember that I gave several sermons on missions with this text. While teaching the synoptic gospel at the Biblical Seminary, I was given the task of arranging “What is mission?” with these words as homework, and after receiving the organized content, I explained what mission was. The reason is that the text is a word that presents a vision for missions.
Mission is to be a neighbor to those who are like a robber who needs a neighbor.
The text is a parable of Jesus, when a thief met a thief and a Levite and a priest escaped him. A Samaritan found him and healed him and took care of him. When Jesus finished these words, he said, “Go and do likewise. " said.
“Go and do as the Samaritans did” is the missionary mission given to the church.
On Monday, I got a call from the owner of the Dream Tree Room, asking me to empty it because it was due. And on Tuesday, the Cultural Shelter was put up for auction and a new owner appeared and asked what he would like to do.
We were already expecting this day to come, so it was not a big shock to pass it. This was God's urging that the time to build the church was imminent. At last Friday's prayer meeting, all the members who participated in the gospel hymn discovered something so amazing and sang in wonder. When you see the lyrics, "You are looking at me with a gentle smile and urging me," how can you promptly look at me with a gentle smile? But our God urges us with a gentle, gentle smile and a gentle smile. He does not push us away for fear that we will be frustrated and disappointed in our impatience, but urges us by looking at us with a gentle smile. I didn't know how grateful I was.
But where did the melancholy of self-blame and repentance come from? This is because this happened when the Cultural Shelter was closed for a week during the winter season.
During the winter season, the Cultural Shelter was temporarily closed for three reasons. The first was that few people were looking for it, the second was the lack of volunteers, and the third was that no one was looking for it and it cost a lot of fuel. That should be enough reason to close. Because it can be a waste of manpower, time and fuel. I understood this reason enough, and I agreed to open the calligraphy class on Thursday and to close it whenever necessary, but after giving permission, I felt strangely anxious and anxious. When I talked about it later, the shelter volunteer said the same thing.
It has been a long time since the owner of the Cultural Shelter went bankrupt. Two years ago, when it was said that it would be put up for auction, we prayed that we could keep the door open rather than money, and God answered, so it became a bid and kept the door open. But this time, news of the auction came again, and we prayed too.
But after closing the door, I thought to myself, 'If I keep this closed, why would God keep taking care of me?' Day by day, I start to feel nervous. In that case, you have to open the door quickly, but I'm glad the day is over! The next day is also good luck! It goes by, but in less than a week, what is to come will come.
I blamed myself, repented, and fell into depression because I didn't do my best until the end. It was sinful, shameful, and regretful before God that I could not open the door for even one person to serve. Of course, we spent the day like that, and we opened right away from Wednesday. I was instructed not to spare any oil and to do it while beating it. But I did not know what to do with the shame.
As I repented and repented, I learned a very valuable lesson. Of course, it was inspired by God. "Mission must not be stopped under any circumstances!, we must not stop it!" Once you know, 'It's not natural!' I can do it, but it stuck with me like a dagger.
I couldn't help but be grateful for God's amazing work of working together for good ahead of Mission Sunday. And he reminded me of today's text. Although I have seen and preached these words countless times, while reading them again, I discovered that you have already put this precious lesson in these words, and although it is a step late, I testify of these words while thinking of more days ahead. I was so grateful to God for allowing me to discover this precious thing.
There are parts of the text about the behavior of the Samaritans that cannot be understood by the general idea.
1. The Samaritans are doing things that have nothing to do with them.
He pours out his time for the robber, takes care of him, and even spends his money, but no matter how much he tries, there is no return for him. There is no profit. Yet he continues to practice.
2. It is okay to stop in the middle, but I do not stop.
When the robber saw the man, both the Levite and the priest passed by. But the Samaritan approached him with pity and bound up the wounds with oil and wine. That's a really good thing. Even if he goes all the way here, there is no one to praise him or criticize him. But he puts him on his own animal and takes him on foot to the inn. Even if you go there and report it to the government office and hand it over, this person will be able to receive the mayor's award as a model citizen.
But he cares for and nurses him all day and all night. The next day. How grateful he must have been who had met the robber! Thank you. How can I repay this favor? I will definitely pay you back. sure to do it. Then 'I'm happy. If you say, 'Go as soon as you feel comfortable', who will point your finger at you? Rather, you will be able to receive a certificate of commendation from the provincial governor by recommending it.
But this person doesn't stop. 'Keep taking care of this man,' he gave money to the innkeeper. Up until now, it has cost me a lot to treat and care for. But again, he spends his own money. If he doesn't give him the money, no one will blame him. I'd say you've done enough even if you stop. But he gave the innkeeper money and told him to keep taking care of it. Now, even if he doesn't, he is now the president's citation for that alone.
But he didn't stop. When giving money to the innkeeper, he says, 'If you pay more, I will pay you back when I come back!' I have no income, but I plan to take care of it by spending my own money until the end.
This story is a story created by Jesus as a parable. Why? Did Jesus introduce this Samaritan and set him to do such a low-paying job until the end, which is enough to be praised without a single person to swear?
To show us that Jesus said, “This is mission.”
It tells us that missionary work is a job that does not return income, and missionary work must never be stopped.
In Luke 14:12-14, Jesus said to the one who invited him, "If you give lunch or supper, do not invite friends, brothers, relatives, or wealthy neighbors, lest they ask you back, lest it be a reward for you." "When you make a feast, rather, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind, and it will be a blessing to you, because they have nothing to repay, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.
Dear saints, the missionary mission that the Lord has commanded us is, "Do not stop pouring out your time, body, and money generously on those who cannot repay you."
These words pierced my heart like a dagger, as if stabbed by a sword. I hope that it will be deeply engraved in your hearts as well.
Because I don't have time, I'm so busy, I don't have money, it's a waste, I've done this much, I've done enough! Let's do our best in missionary work with the determination that "there is no interruption in missionary work in advance."