Love your neighbors
November 7th, 2008
Scripture:
“For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” Galatians 5:14
Observation:
After 30 years, I am still trying to figure out what this verse means. I think it means love your neighbor as yourself. But surely it can’t mean just that, otherwise it would be a lot easier than I make it out to be. Our whole life we are creating boundaries so that not just any neighbor can cross — only the ones we see fit. From high school and college affiliations, from democrat to republican, from state and country borders, and even in religious and denomination affiliations — we find a way to only associate with the neighbors that are just like us. The verse doesn’t say, “love your neighbors that you have everything in common with.”
Application:
Why did Jesus and then Paul repeat this command over and over? Did they recognize the struggle between Jews and Gentiles and know that it would be the same world wide and for generations to come? Did they know that in Flowood, MS we would have trouble loving our neighbor? Next weekend we are helping put together a neighborhood cookout so we can get to know our neighbors. Just in putting the word out we’ve had the opportunity to meet more neighbors in two nights than in nine months. But I still find myself thinking, “Note to self — keep a safe distance from him/her at the cookout.” What is that all about? Even in trying to do something good, my flesh tells me that I can’t love people that aren’t like me. I’ve got a long way to go.
Prayer:
Father God, You couldn’t have said it more simply or more clear, but I still struggle with loving others. People that you love just as much as me. People that Jesus died for just like me. Father, strip away my pride so that I see others the way you see them. Help me to see you in them and how you want to accomplish your purpose in their life and in mine. And maybe how you want to use each of us to help the other in that process. Help me to love my neighbor, no matter if they live across the street, across town or across the world.
— Jared Yates, small group and single adult pastor
