Who is My Neighbor (Part Two of Two)

Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – July 24, 2020

By Guest Writer: Jill Foley Turner

The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor? Luke 10:29

So … who are our neighbors? Who are these vulnerable people, and what can we do for them?

We’ll let the Bible answer these questions. We encourage you not to pick and choose from the list below but to read it all slowly. Pray as you do, that God will make his heart, and yours, clear to you.

Widows and orphans

• Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. – James 1:27

NCF has many charities that support widows and orphans. Could this be how you help? Or maybe you find an elderly person near you who is in isolation and slip an encouraging note under the door or in the mailbox.

The oppressed (those in need of justice)

• He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? – Micah 6:8
• Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression … – Isaiah 1:17

In times of crisis, someone, some individual, some group of people, someone will undoubtedly be mistreated. Wherever it is within your power to bring justice, do it. Micah says God requires it.

Sojourners (immigrants and refugees)

• You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself …. – Leviticus 19:34

Each of us is called to obedience to God above all else (Matthew 6:33, 22:37-39), and Jesus says that when you show kindness to strangers you’re actually showing kindness to him. Look to find ways you can obey God’s Word to love the vulnerable people from foreign countries as yourself.

The persecuted and the prisoner

• Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body. – Hebrews 13:3

For some of us, this will mean continued involvement with prison ministries we support financially or as volunteers. Maybe others will feel God calling them to write letters to encourage prisoners and seek other creative ways to use what they have to help.

The hungry

• If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness …. – Isaiah 58:10
• Then the King will say to those on his right … “I was hungry and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink.” – Matthew 25:35

If God has put thoughts about helping the hungry on your mind, we encourage you to log in to your NCF Fund and check out some of the charities you can help.

And in the end ….

• The king will say to those on his right, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” – Matthew 25:34-36
• Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. – Matthew 25:40
• For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. – Hebrews 6:10

Whether you give a donation or show up in person to serve, God will see the good you do in his name. As you seek to protect the vulnerable, become a voice for the helpless, or even save lives, we pray these verses will serve as encouragement to keep doing the good work you are doing or inspire you to a new work as God directs. May God bless all of you who are serving the vulnerable and keep you safe and healthy to continue in the plans he has for you.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, lead me to love my neighbors well, in Jesus’ name, amen.

Application

What annoying neighbor do I need to make an extra effort to have in my home?

Related Reading

Matthew 7:12, 25:40; Luke 6:32; Romans 13:8-10; 1 John 4:21

Check out  Boyd’s newest and well loved 40 day devotional book: Wisdom For Living

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Jesus says that when you show kindness to strangers you’re actually showing kindness to him. #love #wisdomhunters #truth #Jesus

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