Chapter 43 "Spirit of Love: Love of Neighbor"

Scripture: Acts 10: 1-48; 1 Corinthians 13: 1-13 

Who is my neighbor?  That was the telling question the lawyer asked Jesus in order to justify the people he chose to love over those he hated.  But Jesus answered with a story that illustrated neighbor is not another but is how we choose to love -- we are the neighbor to another when we love like the Good Samaritan did.  Or as McLaren says in this chapter, “the Spirit wants to break down walls of prejudice and hostility so that we stop judging us as clean and them as unclean, opening the way for strangers and enemies to become neighbors, friends, family” (p. 216).  Loving is the key, naturally, but “the New Testament is serious about translating love into practical, specific, concrete, down-to-earth action.  Because each of us has something to give and much to receive, the term one another keeps popping up on page after page of the New Testament” (p. 218).  He lists many of these occurrences where we are told to be devoted to one another, honor, accept, stop passing judgment, agree with, wait for, have equal concern for, be kind and compassionate to, forgive, encourage, teach and admonish, spur on toward love and good deeds, offer hospitality to one another, etc.  The list goes on and on.  This “loving” is to be made visible everywhere, with everyone.  Start loving! 

Share a story about a time when someone affirmed one of your unique gifts or abilities, and when you appreciated the unique gifts or abilities of someone else.     

How do you respond to the list of one-another’s?

I have often felt that the one another’s in the NT are an invitation to live with others in mind, to not live as if only you mattered but to live constantly aware and looking toward the “others” God has placed around us.  I think the comprehensive opportunity to notice others is immense. Tonight driving through my neighborhood I prayed for every house and the people I don’t yet know who live within.  I prayed for Jesus to impact those families, those lives. I wondered what stresses they are encountering and what joys. I wondered how our lives could intersect. I prayed for Jesus to keep using me in their lives.  

Meditate:  In silence, simply hold the term “one another” before God.  Open yourself to the depths of meaning in this beautiful term.