Love Your Neighbor ??

As recorded in the Book of Mark; when Jesus was asked, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?" - "The most important one, answered Jesus, is this: Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these."

Love your neighbor as yourself? Do we really do this? How many more people could be reached for Christ if we really did this? In most of the 128 evangelistic encounters of Jesus in the Gospels, He ministered to the needs of people before actually bringing forth the message of salvation. He was concerned for, cared for and loved every individual person - He Loved His Neighbor!

Do we see people though Jesus' eyes:
- do we see each encounter with someone as an opportunity?
- do we carry preconceived ideas into encounters with certain types of people?
- do we keep in mind the eternal goal of life with Christ our Savior?
- do we rely on the Holy Spirit to guide us as needed when we encounter people?

To do what Jesus did:
- we need to go where the lost are.
- we need to show value, love and action over words.
- we need not to be condemning - that is the work of the Holy Spirit.
- we need to be sacrificial.

Whether we are willing to accept it or not, the truth is that the harvest is made up of people. Jesus came to reach all kinds of people. He touched the poor, the sick, the lost, the abused, the accused, and the accursed. He hung out with sinners, ate with them, and even went to their homes. He died for sinners, including you and me! The lost of this world are not looking for some polished presentation of religious facts; they are looking for someone who is real, who can meet them at their level, feel their pain, and help them bring resolve to their situation. We are all sinners, and we all fall short of God's glory. If it weren't for the grace of God, each of us would burn in the same eternal fire as the prostitute, the murderer, or the thief.

- Marc Estes, Jesus Today

Here is a story I have read in many places. This story encompasses what I have been writing about today.

In 1921, Lewis Lawes became the warden at Sing Sing Prison. No prison was tougher than Sing Sing during that time. But when Warden Lawes retired some twenty years later, that prison had become a humanitarian institution. Those who studied the system said credit for the change belonged to Lawes. But when he was asked about the transformation, here's what he said: "I owe is all to my wonderful wife, Catherine, who is buried outside the prison walls."

Catherin Lawes was a young mother, with three small children, when her husband became the warden. Everybody warned her that she should never set foot inside the prison walls, but that didn't stop Catherine! When the first prison basketball game was held, she went, walking into the gym with her three little kids and sitting in the stands with the inmates.

Her attitude was, "My husband and I are going to take care of these men, and I believe they will take care of us! I don't have to worry.

She insisted on getting acquainted with them and their records. She discovered that on convicted murderer was blind, so she paid him a visit. Holding his hand in hears, she said, "Do you read Braille?"

"What's Braille?" he asked.

Then she taught him how to read . Years later he would weep in love for her.

Later, Catherine found a deaf-mute inmate in the prison. She went to school to learn how to use sign language. Many said that Catherine Lawes was the body of Jesus that came alive again in Sing Sing from 1921 to 1937.

Then she was killed in a car accident. The next morning, Warden Lawes didn't come to work, so the acting warden took his place. It seemed that almost instantly the prison knew something was wrong.

The following day, Catherines body was resting in a casket in her home, three quarters of a mile from the prison. As the acting warden took his early morning walk, he was shocked to see a large crowd of the toughest, hardest criminals gathered like a herd of animals at the main gate. He came closer and noted the tears of grief and sadness. He knew how much they loved Catherine. He turned and faced the men. "All right men, you can go. Just be sure and check in tonight!" Then he opened the gate and a parade of criminals walked, without a guard, the three-quarters of a mile to stand in line and pay their final respects to Catherine Lawes. And every one of them checked back in that night. Every one!

What would happen if we lived life as Jesus did, with great love and compassion? We might become the Dangerous Church (check out the latest blog at http://www.brettaljets.com/ ).