Your Neighbor Needs What You Have
Follow Through – Part 1

Scripture Reading: Hebrews 13:1-3

Key Verse: Luke 10:34

He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him.

The title of today’s devotional is critical to many areas of our lives: Follow through!  Some people can start things but struggle to follow through.  Good leaders know themselves—their strengths and their weaknesses.  If they struggle with follow through, they determine to do a good job delegating the details.  In other words, no matter how it gets done, follow through must get done or why start the project at all?

In Jesus’ story of the Good Samaritan, we see this critical area of follow through.  The Samaritan saw this hurting man as a divine appointment.   He determined to go to him and minister to him.  Then he took him to an inn (a motel of Jesus’ day) and paid for a room for him.  Wow!  That took some time, energy and money.  I call that follow through!  If you know the story, the Samaritan did not stop there, he told the inn keeper to take care of him.  The Good Samaritan promised to stop back and pay whatever expenses the inn keeper experienced.  That, according to the words of the Son of God, is a “neighbor”!

When we see national disasters such as 9-11 or Hurricane Katrina, we watch thousands of people running to help—which is great.  The question becomes, what about follow through?  In most cases, hurting people need more than a splash of compassion!  (Continued)

Father, I want to be your faithful servant.  Help me to not only do moments of compassion but to follow through with what is needed.  In Jesus’ name, amen.