JULY 2018
LET NEIGHBOURLY LOVE CONTINUE
Posted by: District Elder James Griesbaum

While the bible verse says “Let brotherly love continue” (Hebrews 13: 1) we know in the context of biblical times compared to the context of our time Paul meant to love your neighbour. There existed a loving bond between our brothers and sisters in the early church; they fostered the fellowship and did not grow tired of proclaiming everywhere what the Holy Spirit commanded them to speak. We read about them: “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.” (Acts 2: 42). Their love was so great, it was as if they acted with one heart and one soul.

Through the gift of the Holy Spirit, the love of God has also been granted to us. Now it is our decision if we will also continue in neighbourly love. Those who continue in neighbourly love do not look at the weaknesses and imperfections of their neighbour. Someone once said: “I did not find one mistake in that person, but, neither did I look for any!” Let us learn from this and not look for mistakes and weaknesses in others. Let us look for the gifts that every person has in them. Let us see our neighbour as Jesus sees them.

How can we perform acts of neighbourly love? We can find our answer in Matthew 25: 31-36! There it teaches us:
  • I was hungry and you gave Me food
  • I was thirsty and you gave Me drink
  • I was a stranger and you took Me in
  • I was naked and you clothed Me
  • I was sick and you visited Me
  • I was in prison and you came to Me
Here we can apply a spiritual and a natural interpretation. Jesus came for all, for everyone… not just for those we know or for those who currently come to church. It continues in Matthew 25: 40 “Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.”

The dictionary describes the least as “lowest in consideration, position, or importance”. This may take on a different meaning for all who read this. Pause for a moment on this meaning of the least and ask yourself…. “do I rank people like this?”. Then ask yourself the question: “What would Jesus do?”

Let us be full of neighbourly love for all. Let the light that shines within us radiate out to all. In this way, we can share the love of Jesus Christ which we ourselves have experienced.
 

 

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