Friday, August 18, 2023
I live in a fairly quiet neighborhood where everyone pretty much just keeps to themselves. No block parties, no friendly get togethers, no sharing of gifts at Christmas. We might wave to each other in passing now and then, but that is the extent of it. Shamefully, I’ll admit I go right along with the neighborhood trend and keep to myself other than cleaning a driveway or two during heavy snowfalls.
Yes, it’s a fairly quiet neighborhood, except for the guy who lives behind me. He is often loud, drinks a lot, and every once in a while, there’s a certain odor that speaks to another vice he may have. Bottom line—he usually keeps to himself, so I don’t complain. Lately, though, he has taken to parking his truck right in the middle of my side/front yard, which I will admit more than irritates me and my wife. So far, I have been able to forgive and forget, trying to show my love for God by granting grace to my neighbor, but the struggle is real.
I have to remember that just as Jesus loves me and sacrificed himself for me, he also did this for my neighbor. How do I effectively love my neighbor as selflessly as Christ loves me?
Thankfully, the Bible documents many examples Jesus set for us.
John 15:12
This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.
Jesus asks us to remain in his love through the way he lived on earth.
John 15:9-10
9“I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. 10When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.”
Is it difficult to show this kind of love to a loud and inconsiderate neighbor? Absolutely! But if I truly love Jesus, I need to remember everything he gave because of his love for me, and then I need to do my best to follow his example. As Christians, we are not called to follow a big list of rules made up by men on earth. Rather, we are called to show our gratitude for what Christ has done for us by following him and doing what he did, which in turn makes us more like him.
What do we gain from this sacrifice of showing love to others, especially when they are difficult to love?
John 15:11
“I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!”
Unconditional love is hard at times, but it is what Jesus has for us. And if we truly love him, it is for us to try our best to show the same love to others. So I leave you with this thought:
Where’s the love?
Questions:
How well do you demonstrate your love for Jesus in the way you treat others?
Is there someone in your life to whom you really need to extend loving grace?
Next Steps:
When someone causes you grief, recall instead of react. Recall what Jesus did for you.
As we enter 21 Days of Prayer, lean in to where God is speaking to you and continue following as we go deeper into this series, For the Love.
Prayer:
21 Days of Prayer
Day 5 Prayer Focus - For Our Leaders (1 Timothy 2:1-2)
God, I pray for the leaders you have appointed in every sphere of life—in our government, churches, communities, businesses, schools, and families. Give each leader wisdom and discernment to make good choices. Protect and guide them as they face challenges and pressures every day. God, help me to support and respect them with grace and confidence. Thank you for the opportunity to be a positive influence for the leaders in my life. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Series Theme Verse:
1 John 4:10-11
10 This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other.