Neighbor?

 Luke 10: 25-37 v 29 “The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus” Who is my neighbor?”

Jesus was out in the community as one day a man who knew lots about religious law asked him a question. What do I have to do to gain eternal life? As any good teacher knows the way to teach adults is to reply with a question and this Jesus did. What words were given to Moses and how do you see them? The man gave the right answer, to love God and your neighbor. However, the man went on to ask Jesus who is my neighbor?  Jesus then used another technique to stimulate thinking about an idea by telling a story, the parable of the good Samaritan. He then asked the question of the three people in the story who was the neighbor? The man answered, “the one who showed him mercy” and Jesus replied “Yes, now go and do the same.”

I like to read books and most of the time I like to read one’s I haven’t read before as once you know the story it is not the same read but a really good book you can read again and again and find new insights. The bible is a book you can read repeatedly and find new understandings each time. In reading this story today who is your neighbor stood out to me. I realized that none of the people in the story lived in the house next door to the man who needed the help, the Oxford Learning Dictionary meaning of neighbor as someone who lives close to you. Where does the Minister of your Church live? Where do the people who have paid jobs in the Church live? Jesus is asking us to look at the wider picture of the definition of neighbor as the one who shows mercy. Mercy is the act of showing favor to a person when you can do them harm. As a follower of Jesus make sure you show mercy to all you meet today, loving God and your neighbor.

Prayer: Almighty God, thank you for loving us and give us opportunities this week to show your love to others in our neighborhood. Amen