Neighbor

Just a reminder to love your neighbor, who is not just the person next door but everyone that we come in contact with wherever we may be!  I know if you are a believer you have heard the story of the Good Samaritan in the Word of God but just to refresh you mind, please read Luke 10:30-37, “And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, and went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.”

In this story I can understand why the priest and the Levite might be fearful of helping this man.  Just seeing the situation and knowing that thieves and murderers would hide on these roads to do their dirty work when un-expecting people would travel on them, could cause them to be leery.  But what about the Samaritan, he may have known about these things, but he was willing to risk his life in this situation and help this poor man who, from my understanding, was a Jewish man.  He not only risked his life on the road but these two would have been mortal enemies, hating one another because the Samaritans were considered half breeds by the Jews and they would have nothing to do with them.  But in this case the Samaritan man put all that aside and put the wounded man on his animal and took him to a place of lodging where this man would get the help he needed and, not only that but, he paid for the man’s services and the place where he would stay until he was well enough to leave.   That was true love!!

Many people toss this word around, but do they really understand its meaning?  Jesus understood what loving your neighbor meant, in fact He went far beyond that, He loved His enemies also which according to God’s Word they are also our neighbors as well.  Love isn’t just a word; it is an action word, something that causes us to do something for those we love.  Jesus gave the ultimate sacrifice, He willingly laid down His life for His enemies because that was what we all were until we repented and turned away from our sins and asked Him to come in and be our Lord and Savior.  He actually was crucified, died and was buried and rose again; that is how much He loved us.  

Jesus, in the scripture above, was telling a lawyer that it was important to love his neighbor when He said to him, go and do likewise, and this is a good lesson for all of us.  Something to think about and may the good Lord bless you and yours and may you have a super day!!  PS don’t forget to thank and praise the Lord!!