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The Noticing Neighbor
Brian Mashburn
September 14, 2014
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What Do You See?
Jesus really saw people.
He didn't see lepers and legalists, fishermen and Pharisees, Judeans, and Galileans, adulteresses and accusers. No, Jesus saw hearts.
Let me say that again, because you will "pass by on the other side" of dozens of them today if you don't get this, so listen close. Jesus saw hearts.
In Luke 10, Jesus told a story in response to the all-important question, "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" After confirming that obedience to what he elsewhere called the greatest of all commands (love for God and neighbor) is what is required, he was asked a follow up question, "And who is my neighbor?"
In the story, Jesus shows that the "priests and Levites," outwardly doing all the right things with no love, are not doing the right things at all. But the "Samaritan," who is viewed as an outsider of the worst kind is actually the sort of man who will, indeed, inherit eternal life.
Today we begin a series based on this Samaritan, and what it was about him that Jesus held up as the ideal Kingdom citizen.
And today we look at a quality in him that we also see in Jesus; a quality that initiated a life-changing, life-saving relationship, making him a great neighbor.
I'm in my 25th year of doing ministry and I'm more convinced than ever that simple, loving relationships is what Christ wants from us. Why? Because large gatherings and great programs won't necessarily engage the people in our communities who don't know God.
But neighboring will.