For the life of me I will never understand people. I believe that we should love our neighbors, but I believe some of our neighbors are just mean and nasty. I have heard many stories about crazy neighbors and wondered how to love someone crazy and mean.
It is hard to do and I guess that is where God calls us to be the bigger person(s). We may not be able to change them, but we can certainly forgive and pray for our neighbors. I tend to love the neighbors children more than I do the grown-up neighbor. Children are just full of love -- unconditionally -- and that melts my heart. So, I pray for the grown ups -- sometimes. The rest of the time I try to ignore them. That is horrible, but it is true.
The question today is what would Jesus do with the crazy neighbor you can't stand to talk to or be around? How would Jesus deal with the neighbor who doesn't like children or is just mean to everyone?
Jesus taught us to love our neighbor as ourself (Matthew 22:39) but many people might wonder just who is a "neighbor". Our neighbor can literally be the next door neighbor or anyone in the world -- any where. Tonight, I am praying for my neighbors down the street and all over the world.
Lord, help me seek to understand before passing judgment on my neighbor. Pour out Jesus on me so that I may be understood likewise. Show me how to be a good neighbor and to forgive and forget offense. Let not the Spirit of Offense rest in my mind, heart or spirit. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
It is hard to do and I guess that is where God calls us to be the bigger person(s). We may not be able to change them, but we can certainly forgive and pray for our neighbors. I tend to love the neighbors children more than I do the grown-up neighbor. Children are just full of love -- unconditionally -- and that melts my heart. So, I pray for the grown ups -- sometimes. The rest of the time I try to ignore them. That is horrible, but it is true.
The question today is what would Jesus do with the crazy neighbor you can't stand to talk to or be around? How would Jesus deal with the neighbor who doesn't like children or is just mean to everyone?
Jesus taught us to love our neighbor as ourself (Matthew 22:39) but many people might wonder just who is a "neighbor". Our neighbor can literally be the next door neighbor or anyone in the world -- any where. Tonight, I am praying for my neighbors down the street and all over the world.
Lord, help me seek to understand before passing judgment on my neighbor. Pour out Jesus on me so that I may be understood likewise. Show me how to be a good neighbor and to forgive and forget offense. Let not the Spirit of Offense rest in my mind, heart or spirit. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
