Read Luke 10:25-37. Key Verse: 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. (v. 27)
"What can save my church?" is a question most church- goers are asking these days, United Methodists not exempt. The real answer is to ask, what must we do to allow God to change our hearts towards those whom we fail to recognize as our neighbors?
The above passage is known by most as "The Good Samaritan". This is a story told by Jesus to demonstrate the lack of compassion on the part of those whom we would assume should and would have compassion to care, but Jesus knew the hearts of many then as now, care little or nothing about those different than themselves. And in this story shows that even those from whom nothing or little is expected, are the only ones who care and compassion.
As our neighborhoods change so should our churches. If our new neighbors dress or talk differently from us we should change our hearts towards accepting and welcoming them. Then we will be loving our neighbors as ourselves.
PRAYER: Loving God, transform my heart to be a disciple that loves You in all ways and all my neighbors as myself. May I realize that "neighbors" are not limited to my neighborhood. Amen.
