But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbour?" Luke 10:29
i think the part that stood out the most for me today reading this familiar passage was that the lawyer wanted to justify himself. he saw himself as righteous enough, fulfilling the requirements of the law, above reproach. He knew the heart of the law, but wasn’t living it. He knew the right words, but it had not penetrated into real life and into his spirit and soul.
i pray that the words of God would be planted in my life, more than mere words or ideology, but part of the fabric of my life and living. i pray that obedience would flow from the overflow of my relationship with God, that i would live to know Him and make Him known
"And who is my neighbour?" Luke 10:29
and who is our neighbour? is it the person in the house next to me? someone who goes to my church? someone nice and friendly?
yes and no.
it is everyone. not matter how nice they look. how nice they act.
it is the marginalised, the orphan and the mean. it is the single mum and the divorcee. it is the blended family. it is the widow and the elderly. it is the kid with ADHD. it is the rebellious teen. it is the working dad and SAHM mum. it is the teacher and the doctor and the check out operator and the banker and the shop assistant. it is the undeserving and the deserving. those we click with and those we dont. its the person that sits beside us in church and the person that sits on the opposite side of church and the person that goes fishing on a sunday morning. its our workmates, school mates.
and we are meant to show them love and mercy, kindness and grace.
to demonstrate the love and grace and reality of God.
its in the kind words, and the forgiveness and the smiles and the encouragement. its in the letting go of our rights and our offenses. its in the going out of our way and out of our comfort zone. its a life in a way without boundaries. our only boundary is love and the will of God.
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February 2, 2013 at 2:03 pm
Amy Davis (@AmyDavisArt)
Amen! This sounds like a combo of my hubbie (pastor) and C.S. Lewis. So very, very true! Something to constantly remind myself! Blessings in Christ!