Dave's Diary

We continue to reflect on why we are commanded to love our neighbours as we love ourselves.

Prayer before Reading:

Before you read, pray this simple prayer inspired by Psalm 119:10-12

LORD, I seek You with all my heart. Teach me Your ways and help me to store Your Word in my heart, so that I will know how to live a life that pleases You . Amen.

Now spend a moment quietly getting focused on the Lord’s presence before you read.

Daily Reading

Luke 10:25-37

Jesus showed us the true point of this parable in His final interchange with the teacher of the Law. The teacher had asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbour?” So, after telling the parable, Jesus flipped his question around and asked him to think from the perspective of the recipient of neighbourliness:

³⁶ ‘Which of these three do you think was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?’

³⁷ The expert in the law replied, ‘The one who had mercy on him.’

Jesus told him, ‘Go and do likewise.’

Jesus wants His disciples (that’s us) to put ourselves into the shoes of those in need of help or care. If we were in their shoes and needed help, would we care two hoots about the race, gender, social status or religious beliefs of those who offered to help us? No. We would humbly and gratefully receive their neighbourly help and care, just like the man did in the parable.

The neighbours whom we are called to love are not defined by who they are, but by who we are and what we have in our hands, by the grace of God, with which to love them. Everything we have comes from God, and He expects us to use our resources to pursue His purposes – in this case, loving-kindness towards those in need.

According to this parable, as Christian disciples, we should define the identity of our “neighbours” through those lenses. If we have the capacity to help or care in a particular way, then someone who crosses our path in need of that particular form of help or care has become our “neighbour”, regardless of where they live or who they are. Jesus has us in this world as agents of His Kingdom of Love, and He has granted us particular resources. So, when the opportunity to love in His Name arises, we ought to respond in the ways we are resourced to respond.

Contemplation:

Please take time to ponder this truth. Turn one or more of these statements over and over in your mind:

• The Lord has given me a particular set of resources and abilities with which to love my neighbours.
• Anyone in genuine need of what I can offer qualifies as a “neighbour”.

Holy Spirit, please move me to use the resources You have given me to help and care for others today. Amen.