Welcome to the Neighborhood
Something special for us! My best friend and husband Court is our guest writer today. I pray his devotion about loving our neighbor speaks to us all today!
Before we begin…
Hi, I’m Court and am so glad to be sharing with you!
Over the past several years, God has used refugee families to teach me what the word neighbor really means. I’ve stood in an airport terminal waiting to welcome families arriving with only a few suitcases, exhausted, yet hopeful at the prospect of a new life in an unfamiliar place. I’ve sat across from people helping them learn English, watching them work hard to find the right words in a new alphabet and language. I’ve also had the privilege of walking alongside newcomers helping them navigate many changes, overcome obstacles, as well as celebrating their milestones and victories with them
The truth is, I think these amazing people have taught me as much as I have ever offered them. People I once viewed as “different” are no longer distant strangers to me. In fact, many have become friends, and my life is richer because of them. What once felt outside my boundaries has become practical and personal and I now view Jesus’ story of the Good Samaritan in a whole different light.
Welcome to the Neighborhood
You must love the Lord your God with all your heart…and love your neighbor as yourself. Luke 10:27 CEB
When Jesus was asked, “Who is my neighbor?” I notice that He did not give a definition that fit neatly inside comfortable lines. He told a story. A man was beaten, robbed, and left on the road. Two religious people saw him and kept walking. Then a Samaritan came along. That detail matters. To many of Jesus’ listeners, a Samaritan was not “one of us.” He was an outsider, someone they distrusted and avoided. Yet he was the one who stopped, came close, and showed mercy.
That is the part of the Good Samaritan that still challenges me. Jesus doesn’t let me define neighbor only as someone who looks like me, speaks my language, shares my background, worships the way I do, dresses like me, or eats the foods I like. A neighbor is not just the person who feels familiar. A neighbor is the person God places in my path, especially when that person’s need invites me to love with compassion.
Who is My Neighbor?
The man who questioned Jesus seemed to be looking for a limit. “Who is my neighbor?” can sound a lot like, “How far do I really have to go?” But Jesus turns the question around with a question of His own, “Which person acted like a neighbor?” The answer was clear: “The one who had mercy on him.” Then Jesus said, “Go and do likewise.”
In other words, being a neighbor is not about who I must help but who I choose to move towards. The Samaritan did not wait until the wounded man became less inconvenient or less different. He crossed the road. He used what he had. He gave his time, attention, resources, and care. His mercy was practical.
Expanding Boundaries
Following Jesus always stretches the boundaries I draw around love. It’s easy for me to care for people who are easy to understand. It’s harder to love the person whose language, customs, opinions, worship, food, or life experience feels unfamiliar. But Jesus never said love would stay inside my comfort zone. The stranger, the newcomer, the coworker I do not quite understand, the person whose pain interrupts my schedule—these are not distractions from faith. They are opportunities to live it.
Jesus does not ask me to pretend differences do not exist. The Samaritan was still a Samaritan. The wounded man was still from another community. But mercy moved across the dividing line. Love did not require sameness; it required compassion. In Christ, the image of God in another person matters more than the borders I have inherited or the preferences I protect.
Call to Action
So how can we begin to see people outside our boundaries as neighbors? We can slow down enough to notice them. We can listen before we judge. We can learn names instead of relying on labels. We can ask, “What mercy is needed here?” We can share a meal, welcome a newcomer, speak with dignity about people who are often dismissed, pray for those we do not understand, and offer practical help when we’re able. And when fear tells us to pass by on the other side, we can remember Jesus’ words: “Go and do likewise.”
Our neighbor is not only the person next to us. Our neighbor is the person God calls us to love. Today, let’s choose to have eyes to see, a heart that stays open, and the courage to cross the road with mercy.
Pray
Lord, open my eyes to see the people You place in my path, especially those I might be tempted to overlook or avoid. Soften my heart where fear, comfort, or prejudice has made it small. Teach me to listen well, love bravely, and show mercy in practical ways. Help me cross the road with compassion and recognize every person as someone made in Your image. Amen.
Taking One Step Toward a Neighbor
So, here’s the challenge. During Refugee Awareness Month, I encourage you to look for one simple way to move toward a neighbor outside your usual circle. It may be volunteering, tutoring English, sharing a meal, offering a ride, helping someone navigate a new system, or simply learning a name and listening to a story. I’ve learned that even one hour a week can become a meaningful place of connection for both people.
To get started, search “US refugee resettlement agency near me” or “English tutor volunteer opportunities near me”. For those in Upstate SC, consider World Relief.
My friends, your thoughts matter! I’d love to hear from you. Consider sharing your responses in the comment section below!