Luke 10:25-42

I saw the news report this week of a 14-year-old boy in California who killed his classmate. He brought a gun to school, and shot the boy twice in the head.

We are lacking love for our neighbours.

In today's reading, Jesus answers the question: "...And who is my neighbour?" (10:29 NIV)

What follows is the tale of "The Good Samaritan", a story so classic it has become part of our everyday vernacular.

But I urge you to take your eyes off the Samaritan for a moment, and look at the traveler who received help. Under regular circumstances, the traveler would never have spoken to the Samaritan. They were from different social and religious classes. The Samaritan would have been 'impure'. They hated each other's opinion of God. They just had nothing in common.

Who is this person in your life? Who is YOUR neighbour?

- The employee who makes racist jokes. He is your neighbour.
- The woman at church who gossips about your weight. She is your neighbour.
- The bully in school who beats up your child. He is your neighbour.
- The woman on TV who spouts hatred in the name of Christianity. She is your neighbour.

I'm sure you can add more names to this list.

Jesus didn't tell us we had to LIKE our neighbour. We don't have to condone their actions, or agree with their point of view.

We are asked to LOVE our neighbour. To treat them with dignity and respect. To try and see them as children of God.

Challenge: Choose a 'neighbour' in your life who causes you anger or frustration. Pray for them every day this week. See if your feelings toward them change.


Tomorrow's reading: Luke 11:1-13

(Today's post written by Allison Lynn.)