20/20 Vision Day 19 - Your Neighborhood

Have you ever thought about stewarding your neighborhood? There is a man mows the grass along the roadside each year.  It’s not his job, it’s what he likes to do, to see the areas along the road cared for. If you walk the streets in our neighborhood, what some might call a country subdivision, we have about 2.5 miles of road. It’s not a gated community, where there are rules about front yards. Some houses are far off the street. The area along the streets can sometimes be the place where people toss their soda cans, beer bottles, paper trash – you get the picture.  This gentleman takes responsibility in seeing the neighborhood tidy, not just his own property.  

• Serving: “For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.” Gal 5:13NLT

• Taking Care of Others:  “Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.  A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.” Matt22:37-40NLT, Phil 2:3NLT

• Doing Good: “Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law.” “Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”  Rom 13:10NLT, Eph 4:32NLT

• Hospitality: “Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.  Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay.” “Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.” “For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 1Peter 4:8,9, Gal 6:29, 1Gal 4:15

• No Judging: “Don’t speak evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters  If you criticize and judge each other, then you are criticizing and judging God’s law. But your job is to obey the law, not to judge whether it applies to you.“ James 4:11

Not everyone has a mower, but each has a gifting from God AND the ability to pray for one another. There are 59 “One Another” verses in the New Testament. Pray for your neighbors. “I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.”1 Tim 2:1

Father God, teach us how to pray for one another and especially the souls and hearts within our own neighborhood. Sharpen our spiritual discernment to know how and when to pray. Give us ears to hear Your voice for our neighborhood. Then expand our prayers to help others and bring you glory.