Like A Good Neighbor

 

Which of these three,

        do you think,

proved to be a neighbor

to the man who

    fell among the robbers?"

He said,

  "The one who showed mercy."

              Luke 10. 36-37

(According to the Jews,

a neighbor was any member

          of the Hebrew nation.

But as always, Jesus takes love

     to a deeper level.

According to Christ,

a neighbor is any other person

  irrespective of nation or religion,

among whom we live,

whom we chance to meet,

or who is proximate,

      familiar or unexpected.

We don't have to look far.

God provides countless

    divine appointments,

    sacred encounters,

and opportunities to show grace.

How do we view others?

Do we have mercy

               ready to roll?)

O LORD,

We pray that You will

     fill our hearts with mercy,

push out selfishness

       and critical thoughts

with Your love

   that gets all over everything.

Please open our eyes

  to respond to strategic moments

  to love other people

         right into Your Kingdom.

To love them

         just as You love us.

Help us not just to

       be a good neighbor,

but to love like You.

Show us how that truth

             plays out today.