Bread Bite: Love Your Neighbor

As we continue to share words of encouragement, here is your Southern Cancer Center Friday “Bread Bite”, brought to you by Pastor Daniel Blaylock from Forest Hill Church of God in Mobile, AL.

Pastor Daniel-

Jesus answered, “ …Love your neighbor as yourself.” But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:27, 29)

Like a skillful lawyer, the man in Luke 10 tried to find a “loop-hole” around Jesus’ command to “love thy neighbor”. In response to the question, Jesus told perhaps His most famous parable – the story of the Good Samaritan (found in Luke 10:30-36).

As only Jesus can do, He completely “flipped the script” on the lawyer and skillfully closed the loophole he was so desperately hoping to find. Jesus turned the whole thing around on him. The question is NOT, “Who is my neighbor”, but rather “To whom am I being a good neighbor?” The story reminds us of this simple truth – my neighbor is simply whomever I happen to be “near by” today.

With all that’s happening in the news, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Jesus helps simplify it for us: just start where you are! Start with the people who are already right around you – your community, coworkers, neighbors, even the members of our own household. Trust that God orders your steps, and believe that everyone who enters your life today is there for a reason! And MAYBE that reason is they have a need that you’re equipped to meet!