Two-minute read.
When a religious leader asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:29), the Savior answered by telling him the parable of the Good Samaritan. A man lies beaten and half dead in a ditch. Three men walk past him: a priest, a Levite, and a Samaritan. Only the Samaritan helps the victim, showing him compassion.
“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Luke 10:36-37
Jesus’s parable has many lessons we can extract from it. He defines neighbor as everyone. We live in this world, surrounded by people, all journeying through life together. Treating others with the dignity and respect they deserve means not discounting anyone. The Savior wants all people saved and in a relationship with Him.
Loving others for Jesus helps them get to know God’s Son. Whoever the Lord places before us at any given time, He expects us to love. The Lord has no time for belittling His creation. When you mock other people, for whatever reason, you belittle your neighbor and cause division.
Not everything needs saying, and not everyone needs to hear your opinion. If the words you speak don’t lift and encourage someone else, then keep them to yourself. Better to stay silent than say something mean and inflammatory, making someone else feel less than.
Words have power. We must learn to use them wisely and think before we speak. Jesus never said anything that caused harm. If we want to become more like the Savior, we’ll listen more than we talk, use life-giving language when we do speak, and love our neighbor as Christ loved us.
Journal Question:
How have you belittled your neighbor?
In what way have negative words impacted your life?
How can you love others like Jesus did with your words?
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for the Savior and the example He set for us. Please help us love our neighbors as Jesus loved us, remaining silent if we don’t have anything positive to say. Let us love in word and deed today and always.
IJNIP. Amen
