WEDNESDAY 8th FEBRUARY 1984

WHO IS MY NEIGHBOUR?

READING:  Luke 10:25-37                English - Stephen  Chinese - Vera

The Parable of the Good Samaritan
25  And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"
26  He said to him, "What is written in the law? How do you read?"
27  And he answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself."
28  And he said to him, "You have answered right; do this, and you will live."
29  But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"
30  Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
31  Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him he passed by on the other side.
32  So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.
33  But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was; and when he saw him, he had compassion,
34  and went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; then he set him on his own beast and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
35  And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.'
36  Which of these three, do you think, proved neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?"
37  He said, "The one who showed mercy on him." And Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."

COMMENTARY                                - Raymond

Today we continue with a Bible study based on the "30 Hour Famine Bible Studies".

Jesus calls us to love our neighbour as ourself.  But who is our neighbour?  The story of the good Samaritan suggests that whoever we come across in need is our neighbour.

This means we can meet a neighbour in the street, in the newspaper, on the television screen.  Anyone in need is our neighbour.  The needs of our neighbour can range from the need for love and encouragement, to the need for food, or the need for justice.

God loves you and me.  God loves our neighbours.  God says we should bridge the gap - love our neighbour.  Often on television or in the press we see pictures of the poor - victims of injustice, natural disaster or war.  What does it mean to love such people like we love ourselves?

The 30 Hour Famine Bible study suggests that we consider the above question and then write down 5 things that we would need to change if we obeyed Jesus' command.  If we know the love of Jesus we shall be changed inwardly, so that we will love our neighbour with the same love that God has for us.

NEWS

PRAYER (from the 30 Hour Famine Bible Study)
Lord you love me.
You love my starving neighbour.
Please help us to bridge the gap between us, and love each other.
For Jesus sake.     A-men.