Neighborly Love

Neighborly Love

And he answering said,

Thou shalt love the Lord thy God

With all thy heart,

And with all thy soul,

And with all thy strength,

And with all thy mind;

And thy neighbour as thyself.

Luke 10:27

Neighborly Love

While many are focused on “Love”

This weekend😉

Let’s look at Jesus’ commandment of Love 😊

But he, willing to justify himself,

Said unto Jesus,

And who is my neighbour?

Luke 10:29

WHO is my neighbor?

Neighborly Love

Many will celebrate

The love between a man and a woman.

Some people will also celebrate

Family and Friends.

But the kind of Love

That Jesus is Speaking of

Goes beyond a worldly or flesh perspective.

Neighborly Love

Do we have the “sibling only” love 😉

You know what I’m talking about?

If you’re a parent, you have encouraged your child

To love their siblings.

“Of course, I love my sister and my brother.”

They may say 😉

Though that is not what you are speaking of.

You might have the “saint-in-the-Lord only” love.

What do I mean by that?

Well. We sit in a pew with them.

They go to our church.

Of course we love them, right? 😉

There is more to it than that, my friend.

Here is the one that might throw you off the most.

Do we have a “spouse only” love?

Neighborly Love

Would you speak to your best friend

The way you spoke to your spouse today?

We ask young people…

Would you speak to your friend

The way you spoke to your brother?

The problem is we become familiar with those close to us.

We deem them safe people.

We have a rapport.

It becomes acceptable

To be rude, sarcastic, or just a tad bit mouthy.

In reality, we have decided

Our love and its actions

Can be conditional.

Neighborly Love

You fall in love with that handsome man

Or that beautiful lady 😉

The two of you decide to marry.

Your actions reflect your words.

“I love you”.

Of course, every marriage

(and other long-term relationships)

Go through valleys

And climb mountaintops.

Yet, when the money runs out…

Someone becomes disabled…

Or age causes wrinkles and white hair…

We have a decision to make.

A decision that is overdue.

We must learn to love unconditionally.

When he doesn’t take out the trash…

Loses his job…

Forgets your birthday…

The Jesus type of Love

Must come through.

When her body is broken…

She bought the wrong peanut butter 😉

Or ruined your pants in the dryer…

The unconditional Jesus Love is overdue.

Neighborly Love

Ohh we want to love the Sinner

And the Prodigal

And for sure we do:)

But the brother should love the sister

Enough to help her with the chores

And the sister should be willing

To hem his pants or sew his button.

Instead, we say, they should do it themselves.

I can honestly say

That there have been times

When Jesus said to me

Would you have spoken to your best friend

In that tone of voice?

What was that attitude for?

How would you have handled that with someone else?

Neighborly Love

Yes! Love your employee.

And even your employer.

Love your geographical neighbor.

The man in political office.

And the woman that stands on the street.

Love them ALL with

Neighborly Love

But don’t excuse yourself

When it comes to your spouse.

Teach your children by example.

Love Unconditionally

You can do it!

When YOU

Love the Lord your God!

That same Love will Flow

Through a clean channel

Jesus Kind of Love

Neighborly Love