Living as Good Samaritans
A true follower of Christ is someone who is crucified to the world, compassionate for the lost, and determined to serve and help others, even if it means mourning for those who are perishing.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the call to live as Good Samaritans, expressing a deep compassion for the lost and suffering in the world. He rejects worldly pleasures and treasures, choosing instead to mourn for those who are spiritually lost and in need of hope. Tozer's testimony reflects a commitment to share in the pain of humanity, asserting that true spirituality cannot be attained while ignoring the plight of others. He advocates for a life of empathy and action, determined to help those in despair, and to carry the burden of their suffering as a reflection of Christ's love. Ultimately, he seeks a spirituality that is intertwined with the mission to reach out to the perishing, embodying the heart of a true follower of Christ.
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The testimony of the true follower of Christ might well be something like this: The world's pleasures and the world's treasures henceforth have no appeal for me. I reckon myself crucified to the world and the world crucified to me. But the multitudes that were so dear to Christ shall not be less dear to me. If I cannot prevent their moral suicide, I shall at least baptize them with my human tears. I want no blessing that I cannot share. I seek no spirituality that I must win at the cost of forgetting that men and women are lost and without hope. If in spite of all I can do they will sin against light and bring upon themselves the displeasure of a holy God, then I must not let them go their sad way unwept.
I scorn a happiness that I must purchase with ignorance.
I reject a heaven that I must enter by shutting my eyes to the sufferings of my fellow men. I choose a broken heart rather than any happiness that ignores the tragedy of human life and human death. Though I, through the grace of God in Christ, no longer lie under Adam's sin, I would still feel a bond of compassion for all of Adam's tragic race, and I am determined that I shall go down to the grave or up into God's heaven mourning for the lost and the perishing. And thus and thus will I do as God enables me. Amen
Sermon Outline
- The True Follower of Christ
- The World's Pleasures and Treasures
- Spirituality and Service
- Sharing Blessings
- No Ignorance of Human Suffering
Key Quotes
“I reckon myself crucified to the world and the world crucified to me.” — A.W. Tozer
“I want no blessing that I cannot share.” — A.W. Tozer
“I choose a broken heart rather than any happiness that ignores the tragedy of human life and human death.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- As a follower of Christ, you should be willing to be crucified to the world and to serve and help others, even if it means sacrificing your own happiness.
- You should be compassionate for those who are lost and perishing, and should be willing to mourn for them and to help them in any way you can.
- True spirituality must be expressed in service to others, particularly those who are lost and perishing.