Love Your Neighbor...

Currently, our church is doing a sermon series entitled…Love Where you Are!

A few weeks ago, we were encouraged to pray for our neighbors…to literally walk around our neighborhoods and pray this prayer over our neighbors:

The Lord bless you and keep you;

The Lord make his face shine on

You and be gracious to you;

The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.

This week we were encouraged to consider different activities that we might implement in neighborhoods…to assist us in getting to know our neighbors better. 

Several suggestions were given to consider, such as…

Neighborhood BBQ…

Game Night…

Dinner Invitation…

Block Party…

And much more!

As I thought of what it means to be a good neighbor, I couldn’t help but think of my dad!

We grew up in the small town of Oreana, and my parents were close to many of our neighbors!

During the summers, most families were outside…interacting with their children and their neighbors.

Out little town was very community-oriented and everyone knew everyone!

It was a great place to grow up as a child!

Though we had wonderful neighbors, I believe my father modeled what it meant to be a good neighbor the best!

If you drove through the small town of Oreana, you would see numerous sheds that my dad helped his neighbors build!

You would see many patios that my dad poured for our neighbors!

You would see several garages that my dad helped build!

My dad spent many weekends helping his neighbors!

And every memory that I have of my dad helping his neighbors…is one with a smile on his face or laughter ringing out from him!

Whether he was pounding nails or on his hands and knees smoothing concrete, he was either smiling…laughing…or joking with his friends!

My dad was one of the most generous men I know...and it was a blessing watching him help one of his neighbors.

The scripture that we studied in church this morning asked this question, “Who is my neighbor?”…Luke 10:29.

And then we continued to read the parable of the Good Samaritan…Luke 10:30-37, which said:

A man on his way to Jericho fell into the hands of robbers…was stripped of his clothes and beaten…and was left half dead.

A priest was traveling down the same road, but chose to walk on the other side of the road and pass on by the man.

A Levite was also traveling down the road, and he too chose to walk on the other side of the road and pass on by this man.

Eventually, a Samaritan traveled down the road…saw the man and took pity upon him. 

He went to him, bandaged his wounds, and then placed the man upon his donkey.  He took care of the man by taking him to an Inn.

Not only did he cover that man’s expenses that day, but he also paid the Innkeeper in advance for any additional expenses that the man might incur. 

The Samaritan also told the Innkeeper that when he returned, he would reimburse him for any additional expenses that the man might incur while he was away. 

“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?”…Luke 10:36.

It was the man who had mercy upon him.  Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise”…Luke 10:37.

My dad never rescued a stranger along the side of the road, but he was a true example of what a good neighbor was.

I am pretty sure he would have given the shirt off his back to anyone that needed it. 

Who are our neighbors?

It is each and every person that we meet!

Our pastor ended our sermon today, stating that the best evangelism is rooted in kindness…and encouraged us to be kind…to be neighborly!

It was a good sermon today!

But if I am completely honest…I learned that message from my dad…watching him as I grew up!

My dad…that example of a good neighbor…passed away 33 years ago today!

I miss him terribly!!  Tears poured down my cheeks as I wrote this blog post!

But though the tears came…I smiled as I fondly remember his giving heart…his desire to help his neighbors! 

And I pray…that I am following in his footsteps…and being neighborly to every person I meet!

I am thankful for my church that encourages us to be kind to every person we meet…and I am extremely thankful for my earthly father who set that example to me as a young child.

Dear Heavenly Father…help each of us to love the neighbors around us.  Help us to show mercy and kindness…help us to be the tangible touch of Jesus to those around us!

(To hear today’s sermon, please go to firstdecatur.org/sermons – May 22, 2016)