Monday February 14, 2011
Theme: A Biblical Example of Waging Love
Weekend Music links on iTunes: Your Grace Is Enough - Chris Tomlin, Holding Nothing Back - Tim Hughes, From the Inside Out - Hillsong
Read: Matthew 19:19
Think: We all have that neighbor who drives too fast in the neighborhood when our kids are out playing, the neighbor that stacks their garbage so full the crows get a hold of it and scatter it across our lawn, and the neighbor blessed with the uncanny ability to gossip. Matthew 19:19 says “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.”
I totally relate to Ben’s reference to the parable about the Good Samaritan, or the man on the road asking for money, or donating money to a homeless shelter, or helping an older person across the road, but my neighbor…REALLY?
Of course I am being silly, but sometimes I really struggle to love my neighbor. I know that when the bible talks about “thy neighbor” it has a broader meaning than the family living next to us, but for today I just wanted to focus on that. We have all heard the saying, “do unto others and one would do unto you” or the more updated version, “do unto others as you would want done to you.”
Consider yourself a walking Christian billboard that can compel people who may not believe to want what you have in your life simply because of how you act. Try taking a neighbor out to coffee, mowing their lawn, making a meal in a time of need, putting up Christmas lights, or emailing/calling to say “I haven’t seen you lately, so just checking in to see how things are going.” Those simple gestures could change someone’s life.
Do: Show your “Love for thy neighbor” by reaching out to them today.
Pray: Dear Heavenly Father, I ask you that you enable me to be positive Christian role model in my neighborhood and that I would get the opportunity to engage with my neighbors on a more personal level today. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
The eDevotional is written each week by a team of volunteers from Timberlake Church.