True Neighbour’s
Beloved, the first to apologize is the bravest, the first to forgive is actually the strongest and the first to forget the wrong done will be the happiest. Be first in spiritual virtues. Our scriptural focus for today states – For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself. {Gal 5:14 NLT}
This is one of the scriptures that affirms that the law was fulfilled in grace. The subject of love was not the basis upon which the law was built, rather it was built on the principle of tooth for tart. Under the law, love was to a great extent conditional, but under grace love is unconditional. Under the law, the subject of – Who is my Neighbour was based on geographical location and not on the show of kindness. Because of this background, it was difficult for the children of Israel to love those outside the Commonwealth of Israel, thereby limiting their ability to demonstrate the kindness of God to other Nations.
In Luke 10:29 a young religious man asked Jesus a question – Who is my neighbour with the intention of justifying his selfish position that his neighbours are only those who live within his geographical location.
But Jesus the master of wisdom and knowledge introduced the new testament definition of who a neighbour is by telling a story of what has now become the parable of the good Samaritan. Jesus demonstrated through that parable that the subject of who a true neighbour is in the new testament is not based on same tribe, same location, same religious beliefs, same nationality etc, rather it is solely based on the extent to which one is moved by compassion at the unfavourable situation of another human being with the readiness to show the kindness of God to such individual.
In the judgment of Jesus, the priest and the temple assistant were not neighbours to the Jewish man that was in great distress even though they shared the same belief and nationality. Judging by the way you go about your Christian life, Are you are true neighbour?
Let the love God flow through you to others.
Have a Grace filled day – Good News awaits you.
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Last modified: January 10, 2017
