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Welcome Neighbor by Andrew Roberts
Abandoned on the side of the road, the wounded traveler's situation
seemed helpless and hopeless. He was stripped, his possessions
were stolen, and he was bleeding. Surely it was only a matter of
time before exposure or the local wildlife finished him off.
Discouraged - he had been overlooked twice already. He wasn't sure
if the first man had noticed him, but as he passed by, he thought he saw
a priestly headdress. He knew the second traveler saw him because
he came over and looked, but then kept on moving. When it seemed
that all was lost, a long shadow dawned over him - a Samaritan's shadow!
The Samaritan saved his life, attended to his wounds, and provided for
his healing and rehabilitation.
Jesus told the story about the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) to teach
His disciples to be compassionate and merciful to those in need.
He was answering the question, "And who is my neighbor?" The
disciple's neighbor is that person in need of a neighbor.
Who needs you now? That is your neighbor! So your neighbor
may be male or female, old or young, white or black, rich or poor,
family or stranger, even Christian or non-Christian. And we love
our neighbors by personally exercising mercy in attending to the need.
When we are sensitive and compassionate to the lives of others around
us, we can practice the second greatest commandment, "Love Thy Neighbor
As Thyself."
Jackson Heights is a congregation of disciples, striving to be Good
Samaritans in their various walks of life. This church is not
filled with braggarts. But the more I talk to the brethren and
live among them, I am impressed by the individual actions, the
compassion and mercy these disciples exercise on a daily basis. I
don't hear a lot of talk like, "Somebody ought to do something about
that" or "There ought to be a big program to address this."
Instead, I see Christians actively doing what they can for their
neighbors. And I'm persuaded that is the way it should be.
If you're interested in sharing in a spiritual family that emphasizes
"faith working through love" (Galatians 5:6),
come and get to
know your neighbors at the Jackson Heights church of Christ.
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