DCLM Daily Manna Tuesday 30 July 2024

TOPIC: Who Is Your Neighbour?

TEXT:  Luke 10:25-37 (KJV)
25 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?

27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.

29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?

30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.

31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.

33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,

34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.

36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?

37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

KEY VERSE
“Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.”

Luke 10:36,37

DCLM Daily Manna 30 July 2024 MESSAGE

The world is now a global village where diversity and inclusion are crucial, and the question of who is my neighbour is more relevant than ever. For instance, the world marks today as International Friendship Day and advocates against traffic in persons. Everyone is expected to seek the good of others, and love and care for them.

Most people think of a neighbour as someone nearby or who shares their location. But it is instructive to know that all humans should be considered as your neighbours and we avoid all forms of cruelty or discrimination against others simply because they are different from you in specific ways. This is underscored in today’s text, where Jesus reveals that neighbourliness transcends racial, tribal, religious, or physical boundaries and extends to our moral and social duties towards others, wherever they are.

READ DCLM Daily Manna Monday 29 July 2024 – Naaman’s Leprosy, Gehazi’s Heritage

Your neighbour is anyone to whom you can show compassion, sympathy, kindness, and empathy, whether or not they share your culture, language, beliefs, or race. The Samaritan who helped the wounded and dying man along Jericho Road was more of a neighbour than the Jewish priest and Levite who did nothing to save his life.

It takes an encounter with Christ to remove the selfishness that hinders our perfect love for God and our neighbours. Faith in Jesus makes us new creatures who can love God wholeheartedly and give our neighbours human goodness. Let Jesus remove the adamic depravity that obstructs the flow of God’s love in your heart so you can be a good neighbour and share the gospel message conveyed with Christlike love and accorded more reception by those in dire need of true neighbourly love.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
A little deed of love and kindness can conquer the hardest of sinners.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
Ephesians 4-6