AND WHO IS MY NEIGHBOUR? - PART 6

FRIDAY 02 MAY 2025

Matthew 5:16 reads, "You should be a light for other people. Live so that they will see the good things you do and will praise your Father in heaven" (NCV). To be a light in this present age? I need not elaborate its denotation and connotation with Christ's manifest character, for John 8:12 reads, 'Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life"' (ESV). More below!

Reference: Luke 10:29 New International Version (NIV)

"But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, 'And who is my neighbour?"'

Through the light of functioning as a neighbour, people see your good deeds and moral excellence, and thereby, recognize, honour, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. The good Samaritan functioned as a child of the light, adorned with the grace of being a neighbour to a stranger. Indeed, there is a certain splendid largeness of heart regarding his action, in accordance with Luke 10:34-35 which I paraphrased below:

"He went to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them to sooth and disinfect his injuries; and he put him on his own packed touring donkey, and brought him to an inn, in order to take good care of him. On the next day he took out two denarii (two days' wages) and gave them to the innkeeper, and said, 'Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I return.'"

The story of his action gives us a richly endowed and profound sense of Christ-like character. It began with lovely selfless enthusiasm to care for, and to consider the welfare and recovery of a stranger he met in a critical condition of being almost dead. Someone recently asked me: "Don't you really think that the Priest and the Levite were deliberately unconcerned by displaying their lack of interest or zero enthusiasm toward helping the sorrowfully afflicted man?" I said to him, "I've heard of old stories about how great personalities passing through a pathway were killed by armed men and robbers hidden in an innocent-looking cart of forage", and we smiled about it.

Moreover, as a born again Christian, it is not about having a strong or great personality; its all about exercising a bold confidence in applying the diligent standard of a Spirit-led influence to all activities associated with your daily life. That way, you can never be moved by such stories while dealing with all manner of incidents and events of this present world. Why so?

The Bible says, "These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well" (Mark 16:17-18 NIV). In other words, they will participate in all fearless demonstration of glorious exploits - by the intelligent influence of Spirit-inspired approach.

Beloved, the completeness of Christ's humanity comes with the boldness of the Spirit, which overrides all manner of fearful considerations in mankind, for every type of valiant energy and neighbourly excellence is found in Christ. Stay tuned for part 7. Shalom!

Scripture Reading - John 10:10; Acts 3:7; Philippians 4:13; 2 Thessalonians 3:3.

Exuberant Declaration:

The boldness of the Spirit is fully awake in my life, and I'm led today and always to function in the office of a neighbour towards the liberation of the afflicted and the oppressed. As a way of life, I operate in the dominion of light and righteousness, and I'm fully conditioned to flourish in good works and charitable endeavours in every possible way. Blessed be God!