Being Neighborly in Your Neighborhood

I am a little bias when I say, I have the best neighbors in the world! In my little town of Kiowa, Kansas, among all the people God could have had us live near, he placed us in front of some of the best.

Today, while reading my Bible, I receive a knock on the door. It's Joy, our preacher's daughter with an orange smoothie. With a big smile on her face, she says "Mom and I thought you would like this." I take a big old drink in front of her and told her I sure needed this today. It was the tastiest smoothie I ever had.

What does it mean to be "Neighborly?" To some, it means not interfering in the lives of those who they live next to; to not get involved with them in any way. To others, it means being there when the times get tough, and being an encouragement. To me, it's the last example. It means showing God's love for one another by being a blessing, even when you think it will not be a big deal, to the one you are being neighborly to, it may mean a breakthrough!

If we are to be good neighbors in our neighborhood, we must be neighborly. We must be good citizens, and spiritually straight.

Jesus taught a parable of a man traveling down into the valley and beaten severely by thieves. Many people passed his beaten body that were of his own heritage, but they passed him by nevertheless. Then, a Samaritan man came upon him, took him to the inn, dressed his wounds, and cared for his afflictions. The man beaten was a Jew, not Samaritan, yet, the Samaritan man showed compassion. He said to the inn keeper, whatever this man requires, do it to him, and when I pass this way again, I will give it to you. Which of these men were his true neighbor?

Today, I have received a great revelation: Although I am neighborly to my preacher and his family, I need to be more neighborly to those around me who are not a part of our Christian community. Christians have a duty to show love not only within the church but also within the neighborhood.
So...
I am going to be fervently praying about what God wants me to do to be more neighborly to those around me. Perhaps it is just introducing myself and getting to know them; maybe it is just sending them a note through the mail. Whatever it may be, I know God will be in it.

By the way, neighbor does not always imply those who live next to you...It could be someone who you know that needs to see God's love. I encourage you today to be a neighbor to someone.



Leviticus 19:18: "Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD."

Easily Offended Christians

I received a newsletter from Peter Youngren, an evangelist that hits it dead on this time. Now, I can't say I agree with Peter on every theological or doctrinal standpoint, but in this newsletter, he makes a great point on offended Christians. Read on.

Easily Offended Christians

There are a lot of offended Christians these days. Some of the things which seem to cause outrage and offense are; profanity on television, open display of homosexuality in movies and on television, humor that degrades Christian values. Well, that’s just for starters. When Christians express outrage, shock and offense, it is as if that expression in itself is a badge of spirituality. “Look at me; how shocked I am at the sin and worldliness around me. Shouldn’t you react in a similar way? Aren’t you equally shocked? Well, maybe your spiritual sensitivities aren’t as fine-tuned as mine”.

There is only one problem with all of this. Can you think of a single time in scripture when Jesus was offended by the sins of unbelievers? The only time you could find something akin to offense in Jesus was when he spoke forthrightly to the self-righteous, hypocritical religious leaders. In fact, Jesus forewarned us that if we are persecuted for our beliefs we should not be surprised or offended. “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world”, (John 16:33).

Here is the catch. If we are easily offended or shocked, we become either isolationists or attackers of the very society, which we are supposed to reach. Isolationists live in a cloistered environment with little or no influence on those on the outside. Attackers are resisted, much like we would react on a lovely summer night when hornets start buzzing around our picnic table. We find no example in scripture that Philip was offended at the witchcraft in Samaria. What about Paul’s reaction in godless, sinful, Corinth or idolatrous Athens? In neither instance do we find offense or rebuke of pagan behavior, but rather a focused pointing towards Jesus Christ as the only hope.

Everyone of the individuals who carry out what you and I may deem as offensive acts, are included in the reconciliation that Jesus provided by His death on the cross. Easter reminds us that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself. The message of the Cross is the only power able to transform human behavior. Let’s not be shocked by the world around us, but let’s look for opportunities to get to know people, to share their lives and to tell them what Jesus has done for us. Happy Easter!

Peter

I believe the key to winning the lost is not pointing a self-righteous finger at them, but lovingly pointing them to the one who loves them more than anyone could ever imagine.

Jesus Christ went to the house of the sinners and ate with them. He showed undying compassion for their spiritual destiny without brow beating their sin.

Oh, I am not saying Jesus did not name sin, we see evidence to the contrary when he overthrew the tables in the Temple, but his wrath was toward those in control of the Temple who were not teaching the people right. No wonder the Jews were not doing right...

Let's not be offended. Living righteously is not living higher than others, but lowly and humbly, always looking for ways to help others without Jesus Christ. We will reach them not by crucifying words but by crucifying our self righteousness attitudes.

He's Alive and so are we!

This Resurrection Sunday let us resurrect with him and be revived as a church!

If you are not a child of God but would like to be, Don't wait! Get it taken care of TODAY! Contact me by email on this blog, and I will be happy to call or email you on how you can know for sure you have a home in Heaven. Jesus Loves you! He died for YOU. He rose again for YOU. God Bless