Many years ago at family camp week at Luther Point Bible Camp in Grantsburg, WI., we were asked to think about a theme Bible verse for our lives. Is there a verse or two that best fits for you and your understanding of the Christian faith? Well, as you can imagine, there could be many. But for me, the verse in today's lesson, Luke 10:27, came to mind. The lawyer answered, "You shall love the Lord with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself." Loving God and loving neighbor provides both the vertical dimension in life, the spiritual, and the horizontal, the human.
The lawyer, of course, wanted to narrow the definition of neighbor, to his personal understanding of that. For example, the non-Jew may not be a neighbor. Or maybe someone who is handicapped or sick or does not attend the synagogue. But Jesus, in telling the parable of the Good Samaritan, does just the opposite. There are no limits on the definition of neighbor. Everyone is the neighbor, and all should be treated with compassion, especially when there is someone in need. Jesus demonstrated this in both the way he treated people and by laying down his life for all. Who is your neighbor? Is there anyone excluded? Let us all ask God to give us inclusive hearts, so we can truly say all people are our neighbors and live accordingly.
"Change my heart, oh God, may I be like you": help me to love unconditionally and without boundaries!
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