“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul
and with all your strength and with all your mind;
and love your neighbor as yourself.”
(Luke 10:27)
Upon hearing Jesus answer his question, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” the expert lawyer asked a follow-up question: “Who is my neighbor?” Of course, being a lawyer, he was probably looking for a loophole – “I don’t have to love people who are different than me, do I? I love all my friends; isn’t that good enough?”
Jesus went for the jugular by telling a story we know today as “The Good Samaritan.” You can read it in Luke 10:25-37. He chose one of the most despised neighbors of the Jews – a Samaritan – to demonstrate that my neighbor is anybody near me who is in need; regardless of race, sex, income, or social status.
With today’s economic woes, there are plenty of people around us in need. As Christians, we have a unique opportunity before us today to practice what Jesus taught: “Love your neighbor.” Obviously, you and I can’t help everyone; but we can reach out and touch someone’s life – a friend, a co-worker, a next-door neighbor, an acquaintance, even an enemy?
So, I want to encourage you to do a couple things this week – just for the fun of it…
- A random act of kindness – look around and find a “neighbor” in need and just do some random act of kindness for them. They don’t even have to know it was you who did it?
- Invite a “neighbor” to our Fifth Sunday Special on March 29th – “The Blackwood Legacy.” It’ll be a lot of fun!
Let’s be good neighbors!
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for reaching out and loving me, even though I did not deserve Your love.
Open my eyes and help me see people around me as You see them.
And give me the courage to reach out and love them as You loved me.
Help me to be a good neighbor.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
March 19, 2009 at 12:19 am |
Interesting blog, I’ll try and spread the word.
March 24, 2009 at 7:44 am |
Greatings,
Everything dynamic and very positively!
Have a nice day
Pett
March 25, 2009 at 5:44 pm |
It is amazing to me how once we let God come into our lives how easy this is and how natural it has become to see someone in need and offer assistance. And, what a warm and peaceful feeling you get after this has been done. I must admit, my first time helping was a little scary and I was a little unsure, but I get better and better all the time.
March 25, 2009 at 11:35 pm |
As Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Keep it up!