The neighborhood that we live in is at the end of a cul-de-sac that is peaceful, quiet, and for the most part, friendly. After we had been there a couple of years, we received one of “those” letters. It was ugly. It was mean-spirited. Someone had sent us an anonymous letter giving all of the reasons why we were a bad addition to the neighborhood. Things were mentioned like how fast we drove, how our kids were annoying, and how we didn’t have a tree in our front yard as required by our HOA policies. But the hardest pill to swallow was when they began to say that we were snooty rich people that were too good to have to come down from the rich neighborhood and live with the “common people”. Needless to say, we are definitely not rich.
But I realized at that time I hadn’t done enough to actually get to know our neighbors, and to let them get to know me. They simply were filling in the blanks where I had done nothing to fill them in. If they really knew my family and I, they would never say things like they did.
The Bible says,
“For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” Galatians 5:14
Statistics say that only 31% of people can name eight of their neighbors. And even fewer can give any details about them. Are you in that 31%? Do you have people around you that you haven’t taken the time to get to know and to let them get to know you?
I realize that life is busy. I know that it’s so easy to go about our days focusing solely on what we need to get done. But God has put people all around us that need to not only get to know us, but get to know the God that we serve THROUGH us.
Do you truly “know” your neighbors?
Have you not only gotten to know them, but have you given them the opportunity to know you?
In thinking about this earlier today, I decided to practice what I preach. I took a couple of bags of fresh corn over to a particular neighbor that I am trying to get to know. Before I left, we actually had the best conversation that I have ever had with him about the Lord.
I challenge you this week to make the effort to reach out and “love” your neighbors in some way. Who knows? Maybe God will use you to convince them to surrender their lives to Jesus.
SOAP Scripture: John 13:34,35
“These are great verses to consider. Jesus strongly gives us the challenge to love one another in such a way that they will know that you are a follower of Jesus.”
S: (scripture)
Read the above passage and underline, highlight, or write down passages that stand out to you. Maybe re-read it a few times if that’s helpful.
O: (observation)
Write down things you observe about the passage. Maybe it’s a word that stood out to you, something the passage made you think about, or a question that you have.
A: (application)
Write down some ways that the passage applies to your life. Make it personal.
P: (prayer)
Take a moment and pray. Ask God to make the passage practical to your everyday life.
