{"id":87,"date":"2012-09-25T05:30:00","date_gmt":"2012-09-25T11:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/69.195.124.95\/~redletu4\/define-neighbor\/"},"modified":"2012-09-25T05:30:00","modified_gmt":"2012-09-25T11:30:00","slug":"define-neighbor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davidrupert\/define-neighbor\/","title":{"rendered":"Define “Neighbor”"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

There is a deep-seated craving for meaning, to make an impact on the world around me.\u00a0<\/span>I\u2019m not here just to consume, or to exist, or live out my days minding my own business.<\/span><\/p>\n

God, use me!\n

<\/p><\/span><\/i><\/div>\n


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So I approach Jesus, just like one of his followers. \u201cLord, I love you with all my God with all my heart, soul, and strength.\u00a0 But what more can I do<\/i>?\u201d\n

<\/p><\/span><\/div>\n


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So he presses me, \u201cLove your neighbor, as yourself.\u201d<\/i>\n

<\/p><\/span><\/div>\n

Bible study is easy. Going to church is exciting. I could even put a little fish on my car. \u00a0I can smile at strangers, be a good worker and a nice guy to my family. But he presses me, again. \u201cLove your neighbor as yourself.\u201d<\/i>\n

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Right away, I\u2019m looking for an out. \u201cDefine neighbor?\u201d<\/i>\n

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Certainly he doesn\u2019t mean that grumpy man across the street who threw dog waste on my car? It\u2019s not the guy with the Obama\/Biden sign barrage on his year? It\u2019s not the people next door who turn their yard into a October freak fest, complete with coffins, motion activated screams and a blow up Frankenstein on their roof \u2013 that all goes up the weekend after labor day. It\u2019s not the two women who drive the Subaru with the CoExiST bumper sticker, is it?\n

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<\/a><\/div>\n
My neighbor isn\u2019t the guy in the next cubicle who never talks, or the one who complains about everything, or the one who has bad breath? It isn\u2019t the woman at church who never has money but always has problems. It certainly can\u2019t be friend who can\u2019t hold down a job because everyone is always \u201cout for him.\u201d\n

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Really, I would be much easier if I could just pick my neighbor.\n

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So I walk the road, and ahead of me I see him. . I see the political machine walk past him, but still making sure he votes. And a social worker walks past him, ensuring his benefits are in order.I see his coworker walk past him, hoping he quits so he can have his desk. I even see people from church walk past him, and they toss him a little money, but secretly praying he doesn\u2019t show up at the 11:00 service.\n

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For me, making a difference and having significant impact would be much easier with a book deal, or standing in front of a crowd, or being interviewed on TBN. Making a difference would be amazing if I had a lot of money to give to my favorite ministries.\n

<\/p><\/span><\/div>\n


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But the calling isn\u2019t to any of that. It\u2019s to this one man. And my Samaritan heart \u2013 hurt by the world and all of its injustice \u2013 now faces a choice.\n

<\/p><\/span><\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\"Enhanced<\/a><\/div>\n
Please, share with a friend if you feel moved.
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There is a deep-seated craving for meaning, to make an impact on the world around me.\u00a0I\u2019m not here just to consume, or to exist, or live out my days minding my own business. God, use me! 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