It seems the 2020 election is “officially” underway here in the U.S.A. We have Trump/Pence vs. Biden/Harris.
PLEASE HEAR THIS: God wants you to love your neighbor. The devil wants you to hate your neighbor.
Who is your neighbor?
25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him (Jesus) to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”
29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”
- Luke 10:25-37
Those of you who are well-versed in Scripture or have knowledge regarding the context know that in this time period (1st century A.D) a man from Samaria and a man from Jerusalem are essentially at opposite ends of the social/cultural/political spectrum. Given their individual backgrounds, they have no business getting along with one another. It would have been unthinkable for a Samaritan to help a Jew.
More than anything, I hope you recognize from this passage that
the Samaritan went above and beyond to help his neighbor. He did everything he possibly could to help. He did not protest the injustice nor seek personal glory or compensation for his servanthood. You see, the real
question is not, “who is my neighbor?” Jesus corrects the question itself; “how
can I be a neighbor?”
It does not matter who you are or what you call yourself. You are to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and to love your neighbor as yourself.
I am appalled by the words and actions I see people use against those who don’t agree with them, especially when it is by those who claim to follow Christ. YOU ARE THE ROBBERS!
God's commandment is to love your neighbor. There is no caveat.
