Love Thy Neighbor

”The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words, and that which was written blamelessly, words of truth. The words of the wise are like goads; and like nails well fastened are words from the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd. Furthermore, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh. This is the end of the matter. All has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it is good, or whether it is evil.’ Ecclesiastes 12:10-14

Spend time in nature

For an outside activity, see if you can walk on a tight rope. When we go to the park, it is unreal to see people making their way across tight ropes. I don’t have the balance. If you are like me and would rather stay a little closer to the ground, lay a board on the ground and try walking across it. You can also visit nearby playgrounds; there might be a beam you can use as a tight rope. Try balancing on several surfaces; can you find a log laying over a river. Look for other natural bridges or stepping stones. Be creative as you explore balancing in nature. If your stuck at home, lay down some tape or rods taped together. When God created the heavens and the earth, everything was perfectly balanced. Humans are not God. Being a Christian is not a tight-rope walk; it is more of a plowing motion. Humans direct their steps not by deciding they are good, but by focusing on Jesus. We need a compass to look forward to. Without a beacon, it is easy for our wondering heart to lead us astray. As you explore your balancing abilities, talk about where your focus is. When balancing, your focus is set on making sure your next steps are safe and secure. Walking with Jesus is the same. We don’t just start walking and hope we make it across some barrier. We lead our hearts keeping the focus on Christ. When a farmer is plowing a field, if they want straight lines, they focus on something that is ahead of them. They let a post or something stationary be their guide. Remember to let Jesus be your guiding post.

Tip

Balance training is a great way to be a better athlete. Having a strong core can also helps build speed and decrease pivoting time. As we maintain a balanced God filled life, it is easy to see how calibrating our compass helps us gain new perspectives through out the day.

Do something creative

Today’s lesson is about being a Christian who cherishes a life centered on loving God and loving your neighbor. In the States, Christians are being poor examples of the character of Jesus (1 Corinthians 13). Today’s creative activity is meant to encouraging loving our neighbor and leaving the judgment up to God (Psalms 82:8, 50:6, 75:7, Ecclesiastes 3:17, 1 Samuel 2:25, Job 21:22,1 Corinthians 5:13, Romans 2:16, and so many more). Today think of someone who needs to be reminded that they are loved. Secretly, or in-person, give them a gift to remind them they are loved. The gift can be anything you would like.

Gift suggestions:

• A poem
• A present
• A meal
• A Compliment
• An outing
• Time/listening

Family worship idea

For worship, give everyone two pieces of paper. First, write a special prayer for each person in the family; it can be anything. The prayer can be a short sentence or two. Divide the second sheet of paper into four to eight cards (depending on how many people you would like to pray for). Next, write a heartfelt, or prayerful, verse on each card. Mix the cards up and flip them over and write the name of a person you would like to pray for. Once all the cards are complete, flip them over again to show the verses. You can mix them or pray for the people in front of you. Now, read the Bible text and say a prayer for the person that was paired with it. Once everyone is done, talk about what the author of Galatians 6 meant when he called us to carry each other’s burdens. Suggested verses below:

Personal thoughts

There are four ways to say love in the bible’s New Testament. When Jesus gives the “Two Great Commands” in Matthew, He asks us to Agapeseis our neighbor (Matthew 22:39). Agapeseis is to love, wish well to, take pleasure in, long for, denotes the love of reason, or esteem. This commandment was, of course, pointing back to Leviticus. There, He asked us to “aheb” our neighbor as ourselves (Leviticus 19:18). This “aheb” love is the same love Abraham had for Isaac. It is the love Rebekah had for Jacob and Jacob for Rachel. This love is the love we are asked to give to God. Honestly, when I started my plan, I was so angry that there are individuals claiming to be believers, that are being so hateful and destructive. I don’t want to be associated with them, at all. Over the last four years 2 Peter 2:21, has kept coming to mind. It would be better if these individuals didn’t call themselves Christians. They are causing possible believers to walk away from the bible. I started thinking about all the verses about fools and dogs (hence the banner, Proverbs 26:11 and 2 Peter 2:22 I’m so sorry). I was fuming and believed that they had a board in their own eye (Matthew 7:5) in the form of some idol worship for our president. I was judging hard, but I know God is the judge. He is the one who will rectify the wrongs. I am the one who is called to love my neighbor. To love my enemy (Matthew 5: 44-45), to feel compassion (Colossians 3:13), to stay calm (Matthew 12: 22-37, these are Christian acts. I still believe this group is pushing people away from salvation, but I also know that everyone is getting a chance to find their center. Above all else, I know these actions are part of the plan to bring us home.

Hiding His word in you ❤

‘But the house of Israel will not listen to you, for they will not listen to me; for all the house of Israel are obstinate and hard-hearted. Behold, I have made your face hard against their faces, and your forehead hard against their foreheads. I have made your forehead as a diamond, harder than flint. Don’t be afraid of them, neither be dismayed at their looks, though they are a rebellious house.” ‘

Ezekiel 3: 7-9

Additional Resources:

• BibleStudiesForLife.com
• PursueGodKids.org