Jesus told us that everyone we come in contact with is our neighbor. (Luke 10:25-37) But often, we see this as so broad, applying to so many people, that it doesn’t move us to actually care about those right across the street.
When Jesus said, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” he was calling us not to feel some gooey emotion that gives us goose bumps. He was calling us to action. To actually do something tangible that would show care and concern for others. By using the word neighbor, he was talking about those who are in close proximity to us; across the street, across the cubicle, across the ball field.
In this past Sunday’s message, I encouraged everyone to take real steps this week to get to know the names of those who live around you (if you don’t already). By using a Block Map (from the book, The Art of Neighboring), you can write the names of those who live closest to you. Let me encourage you to use the map to help you memorize their names. It is when we learn someone’s name that we move from strangers to acquaintances.
Let’s take Jesus’ words literally and show love to our actual neighbors.
0 Comments