Day Ninety-One

YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD

“The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

—MARK 12:31 NIV

Jesus said the second greatest commandment outside of loving God was to love your neighbors. So here’s my question: What if Jesus really meant the people you live around?

We can absolutely take this verse to mean all other people, like our neighbors overseas, our neighbors in the checkout line, and so forth.

But, friend, you’ve got actual neighbors—actual souls all around you who need hope and need to know that hope is found in Jesus.

So who are these neighbors? They’re the moms at the gym. They’re the people at your school. When you walk out your front door, if you make a 360-degree circle, they’re those people. Do you know them? Who are they? What do they do for a living, and how are you serving them and caring about them?

My dad lives out the belief that you should be concerned for the people nearest to you.

One of my dad’s best childhood friends raised three boys virtually alone. Every so often my dad would take the boys out to eat or take us over to hang out with them and play on the playground. Dad has done accounting work for families even when they couldn’t afford the help or weren’t able to pay him (though we did get some fresh garden produce a time or two as payment). Dad met with a friend of mine when she lost her job and didn’t know what to do about her lack of income. (Did I mention my dad is supersmart and everyone wants his advice?)

You can be brave enough to see those people around you, rather than just passing by.

Dad serves our local community with his time, money, and wisdom. It would be easier to worry just about our family. Trust me: we give him plenty to worry about. Instead, he cares for lots of families and does whatever he can to help them. It would be easier to worry just about his own company, but he chooses to care about others and their livelihoods.

Marietta, Georgia, is better because my mom and dad live there.

How is your neighborhood different because you live in it? You can be brave enough to see those people around you, rather than just passing by. You can be brave enough to serve them and love them, and God will use you, friend. You will be living out your mission as a light in this dark world.

BE BRAVE: Introduce yourself to a neighbor you don’t already know. Make a new friend with someone who lives near you.