But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you. Luke 6:27

God’s command to love our neighbor as ourselves is easy when neighbors are lovable. The challenge comes with those around us who may not be so pleasant. Let’s imagine one of these “not so lovable” neighbors falling into a deep hole. If we came upon them, how would we respond? I would like to identify seven possibilities…

1.  the sympathizer, We tearfully jump into the hole to tell the neighbor about the many holes we’ve fallen into.

2.  the avoider, We see the neighbor in the hole, turn from the problem, and speed walk in the opposite direction.

3.  the enabler, We efficiently provide a light with extra batteries, a deck of cards, and lunch.

4.  the pretender, We suddenly have a reason not to be of help.

5.  the criticizer, We peer over the edge of the hole and lecture about carelessness.

6.  the meditator, We think deeply and pray to “god” to send someone else who’d be ready, willing, and able to help.

7.  the empathizer, We understand what being trapped in a deep hole means, and we lower a ladder or rope, and encourages the neighbor to climb out.

In a very similar way, many of our neighbors can be trapped in the deep holes of a sinful life. As we come upon them, how will we respond? Will we choose to mourn, avoid, promote, fool, criticize, act religious or empathize with them?  May I suggest that we rely upon The Commander, the One who introduced us to love and compassion or empathy in the first place? We can only give what we have ourselves. Jesus Christ said He was the way, the truth, and the life and that no one came to the Father except through Him. If we have repented and received Jesus Christ as our spiritual ladder and hopeful rope  from the pit of our own sinful lives, then we are fully persuaded by our changed life. With the Spirit of the ultimate good neighbor in us, prompting, guarding, and guiding us, we are surely capable of loving our neighbors as ourselves.

For this week and beyond let’s purpose to be neighborhood empathizers God’s way, effective in “His Command Performance!”

Luke 10:25-37; Mark 12:33; Matt 19:19; Rom 15:2; John 15:10-12; Rom 13:8-10; Acts 3:6