Galatians 5:14 ~ For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood, a beautiful day for a neighbor. Would you be mine, could you be mine, won’t you be my neighbor.
One of the greatest frustrations in my life is the treatment of the saints to one another. We serve One God, and yet there is such a division among us that you’d think there was more than One. Or that God had favorites. Because I am a Baptist I am the chosen? No, because I am Shari, I am the chosen. Do I worship the church of Shari? No. I worship God. And I know many of you feel the same way, because you’ve said as much. You do not want the separation of God’s people, and yet it’s there for all us. We have slight differences in the way we worship. I say slight, because if we had great differences, you probably wouldn’t be reading me. There is false doctrine, I would not say otherwise and we would be fools not to be aware and avoid those who teach it lest we be confused. But the doctrine of Christ, the principles upon which the Christian faith is based should not change; Jesus Christ, born of a virgin, crucified on the cross of Calvary for the sins of man, risen again the third day that we could have victory over death, Hell and the grave through our belief in Him by faith, that’s it. No more, no less. We cannot add to it, it’s not ours.
So why then do we argue? You’re my neighbor.
I’m not going to come live in your house. There are things in the house of worship for which I serve God that will not change. I worship there because that’s where God has me and I believe the way they believe. You likely feel the same way about your house of worship. If you come to visit me at my house, you shouldn’t try to change the décor or the manner in which we conduct ourselves; you should respect me for who I am, and I should in likewise return the favor. But I should love you, and you should love me. When we gather in the community we should greet one another with a Holy kiss. (okay, you don’t have to kiss me) but we should at least shake hands.
Paul was frustrated with some of the Galatians for having returned to the law. Are we any different? We’ve made our own rules of the Christian faith. We’re under grace, but we often don’t extend it. Wow… where did this come from this morning? I don’t know, but I like it. I love God’s people. I told a brother on Facebook the other day, that when I got to Heaven, he was going to be one of the folks I look up. I may or may not meet him down here, but he had just stirred my soul and encouraged me in so many ways that I wanted to see him face to face and thank him. I don’t know what denomination he is, I don’t care. I love him. That’s how we should feel about everyone!
I hope today you love a little bit on every neighbor you come across. How else will they see Jesus!