Galatians 5:14, “For the whole Law [concerning human relationships] is fulfilled in one precept, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself [that is, you shall have an unselfish concern for others and do things for their benefit].” Amp
Who is your neighbor?
One’s fellow human being!
Did you know: All humans are descendants of the first two humans God created (Adam and Eve). All humans are made in God’s image. All humans belong to one biological race. All humans are equal before God. All humans belong to one family and need to treat each other as family. All humans are the same basic skin color with the brown pigment melanin, and thus are shades of brown from dark to light. All humans need to believe the true history of the human race is given by God in the Bible-only then can we begin to understand who we are, where we came from, what our problem is, and what is the solution. All humans need grace relation, not race relations.
Valuing the other person above ourselves. It starts with you. If you change on the inside and then share with those you come in contact with, it will catch on like wild fire! This is how revival begins and remains. In the hearts of the individual. Whenever I am grocery shopping or browsing in a department store, people approach me as if they have known me for a long time! It is the same with my husband! I like to think they can see Christ in us!! They feel comfortable around us. Change starts on the inside of the individual! A heart committed and surrendered to God. Knees bent and head bowed praying for yourself and your fellow human beings! No matter what they have done.
Prayer keeps you from being self-absorbed. Keeps you focused on someone other than yourself. If you have tried praying for a difficult person, you have found it is hard to continue to have ill feelings towards that person! Seeking God as your source for life and answers. Love is the key that unlocks the door. Without love you will not care what God thinks or says. Without caring for the other person, their life will not be of any value to you. And you cannot have love unless it comes from God! Forgiveness is like a concrete foundation that holds the house together and keeps you standing strong. Unforgiveness hurts you more by not releasing the harm done to you. Communication is a must. Let’s talk about it! Not to ignore the hurting but to be a light. Not to accuse but console. Not to apologize for something you did not do but to renew our thinking in order to move forward to new and improved relationships!
The stumbling blocks in your mind after reading this could be, I don’t love myself. How can I love someone else? Good question! You cannot, is the answer. Not in your own strength or ability but in Christ alone! Only time spent with God will soften your hardened heart. Heal those aged wounds. Turn your smile from upside down to right side up!
Whenever there is a crisis or with whomever, there is opportunity for ministry. It is your time to be a light in the darkness! Every life matter to God and should to the true Christian. Those who shout the loudest, are hurting the most and probably have been for a long time. They want to know do you hear me. Are you listening? Do you care?
A woman especially knows what it is like to want someone to LISTEN to her! People do not care what you know until they know that you care!! And when you talk, lift up Jesus! Bring the Savior into their life in that wounded area! Tell them of the Love of the Father to them! How Jesus Christ has already come to save them! You don’t know who will be impacted!
This is your time to SHINE in a troubled world! Starting with your you and your neighbor!
Marguerite Wafula