Action to consider as you move forward: Take a look at the list you created from Wednesday’s devotional. Prayerfully choose one thing from that list that you think you can complete this week, and then actually follow through with it!
Throughout Scripture, but particularly in the Hebrew Bible, God has a tendency to surprise people; God shows up in some odd places and uses some odd people for God’s work. Jesus tended to surprise people too because of those whom he chose to spend time with (lepers, tax-collectors, the “unclean”, etc.), but he also surprised his disciples by pointing out certain people whom they were to learn from...
41Jesus sat across from the collection box for the temple treasury and observed how the crowd gave their money. Many rich people were throwing in lots of money. 42One poor widow came forward and put in two small copper coins worth a penny. 43Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I assure you that this poor widow has put in more than everyone who’s been putting money in the treasury. 44All of them are giving out of their spare change. But she from her hopeless poverty has given everything she had, even what she needed to live on.”
(Mark 12:41-44, CEB)
It was a pretty bold move on Jesus’ part to suggest that the disciples needed to learn something from someone so poor, (and a woman no less!) but perhaps the disciples weren’t all that shocked after some of the other things they’d encountered with Jesus thus far. Surely the disciples were beginning to understand this valuable truth: if we open our hearts up to someone else’s experiences, we can discover new ways of encountering God.
Along this journey of becoming the kind of neighbor that Jesus calls us to be, hopefully we have been able to shine the light of Christ into our neighborhoods. But I also hope that as you get to know your neighbors more deeply, you will allow yourself to be open to the ways in which God is revealing Godself to you through your neighbors. What have you learned about God through a neighbor who doesn’t look like you, or doesn’t worship the same way you do, or doesn’t have the same political views as you? The answer cannot be “nothing,” because God is always present in our lives; it’s more a matter of if we are paying attention. So, have you been paying attention..?
Prayer:
Gracious God, forgive us for when we forget to look for you in unfamiliar faces and places. You are so much bigger and craftier than we give you credit for. In our pursuit to show your love to others, may we not forget to to also receive your love from others. Our work of neighboring has only just begun; with your guidance, may we do it well. Amen.
Written By: Jenny Spidell