Loving My Neighbor

Went to church last weekend at Calvary Community Church here in Kona, absolutely loved it!

Their current topic is "Loving My Neighbor as Myself" and it absolutely rocked - Here are a few of my notes if you're interested (My notes might not all make sense, bare with me)   

:) Enjoy 

Luke 10:25-37

-The story of the Good Samaritan-

(NIV)

And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, "Teacher (Jesus), what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"

He said to him, "What is written in the Law? How do you read it?"

And he answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and you neighbor as yourself."

And he said to him, "You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live."

But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"

Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down the road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 

So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him.

 And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.' Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers"

He said, "The one who showed him mercy."

And Jesus said to him, "You go, and do likewise."

Have you ever read a story in the Bible a million times, and then one day it just makes sense? I've read this story before, but easily forgotten it, this day however, it just hit me.

There are three possible attitudes I can have toward my neighbors.

1: I can keep my distance.

((Referring to the priest))

Avoidance.

Don't get too close to people.

Intentionally avoid getting too close to people; easy to be superficial.

By doing this, I would be avoiding getting hurt. 

2: I can be curious but uninvolved.

((Referring to the Levite))

Easier to talk about people's problems than to help them.

-How many time have you known what you should do in a situation, but it's just easier to walk on by? Have compassion in your heart and mind, but not execute it?-

Not letting someone else's problem interfere with your "schedule".

3: I can treat them how I want to be treated.

((Referring to the Samaritan))

v. 33 His heart was filled with pity.

Matthew 7:12 "Always treat others as you would like them to treat you."

It's SO easy to to bypass someone, their problems; hear them talking something out or physically see an issue and first think of OURSELVES. That's not the intention, don't be inward focused.

Yea, you might have a similar story or situation and can easily turn a situation towards your "problem" or "issue" but have compassion. 

Take the time to be a friend, whether to a stranger, family member or friend.

There is enough time in the day/your schedule to care for people.

Everything, absolutely everything, is based on relationship.

Everyone craves it, everyone desires it.

Be relational.

Have pity.

How do I start loving my neighbors?

1: I must see their needs.

Love really begins by looking, in the eyes, you have to see the need before you can meet the need.

You can show you care, by being aware.

Look for someone hurting.

Someone alone.

Someone who needs help opening a door!

Look.

1 Corinthians 10:24 (NCV) "Look out for the good of others"

How many times have you seen a car accident?

As your rolling up to the scene you tend to slow down, check out the situation, see what's going on..

"Slower you go, more you'll see - Like an accident on a highway"

Slow down.. Check out your brothers and sisters around you.

Galatians 6:7 (MSG) "The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others.. harvests a crop of weeds. All he'll have to show for his life is weeds."

-Hurry is death of kindness.-

2: I must sympathize with their pain.

When the Samaritan saw him, his heart was filled with compassion.. First your eyes see, then your heart.

Galatians 6:2 (NLT) "Share each other's troubles and problems, and in this way you obey the law of Christ." 

3: I must seize the moment to help.

Love is a verb.

"The Samaritan used what he had, he wasn't a doctor!"

This is so true, how many times do we see a situation and think "I can't be of any help.."

That's a lie. 

Lie lie lie.

Do something.

We must be willing to be interrupted.

Proverbs 3:27-28 "Never walk away from someone who deserves help; your hand is God's hand for that person. Never tell your neighbors to wait until tomorrow if you can help them now."

4: I must move against my fears

Proverbs 11:17 "Your own soul is nourished when you are kind."

Don't think too hard, if you feel you should do something, do it.

Too many times we contemplate whether we have time for someone, the more you think about it, the more the enemy will tell you that you shouldn't do it.

Don't give the enemy room, because he doesn't want you to be kind.

- - - - - 

So that was the church service.

Loved it.

Hope you liked some of it :)

Love You All 

xo