Love Your Neighbor
BECAUSE GOD LOVES US, WE LOVE ONE ANOTHER: July 14, 2019
If you're tuned in to the national discourse, you probably also realize that most national conversations are proof of natural law, or that God has hard-wired us with a conscience. Whether the issue is immigration or health care (or anything else!), each side will make the argument that their position is more loving and more moral to more people.
In this week's lesson from Luke, Jesus spoke with "an expert in the law." Was it a political discussion, a morality discussion, or spiritual discussion? Maybe it was a combination of all three. The man was confused as to how someone gets to heaven - he understood the law, "love God and love your neighbor." But he didn't understand the Gospel. Jesus teaches him a parable to show him his sin, and his need for a Savior.
Old Testament widows often faced an uncertain future. In our first lesson, we meet two widows - Ruth and Naomi. When she married, Naomi moved away; but now that she was widowed, she chose to return home to the support of her extended family. Ruth goes with her saying, "your people will be my people and your God my God."
Paul argues powerfully in his lesson that we use our freedom from the law to aggressively pursue the fruits of the Spirit. The Christian's mind has been reshaped! No longer ought our thought process be avoiding sin - that's a given. Instead, our faith-filled heart strives to be productive. Show the world our joy, peace, love, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
All three lessons suggest behaviors that for each of us are a work in progress. They were not, however, a work in progress for our God. Jesus' life was constantly lived in love of his neighbor - that includes us. Our Christian privilege is to show Jesus to the world through modeling the same love.
► Readings:
• Ruth 1:1-19a: Ruth follows Naomi to Bethlehem.
• Galatians 5:1, 13-25: Use freedom to foster the Spirit's fruits.
• Luke 10:25-37: The parable of the Good Samaritan.
• Psalm: 25
► Sermon theme: Love Your Neighbor