If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.—James 2:8
Are you loving your neighbor as yourself? Are they lacking in some way? Are you showing them love, even on the hard days?
Who are my neighbors anyway? The people who live next to me? The lady who is checking at the grocery store? The guy pumping my gas? The family down with street? The barista making my coffee every morning?
The answer is yes.
This month in Lesotho, my team—Team XOXO—is paired with another team from our squad, the Freedom Runners. Our ministry this month is in the Malealea Valley. It is called Africa 4 Jesus. And it’s maybe the simplest and yet the most obvious ministry we could possible be doing.
We go to our neighbors, give them encouragement through scripture, tell them about Jesus, and ask if there are any chores we can help them with.
A teammate and I were talking while heading back after the first day. Why don’t we do this in the States? Why don’t we go to our neighbors and say, “Hey, I just wanted to give you some encouragement today.” And after the conversation, ask, “Is there anything I can help you with?”
ITS SO EASY. Why do we insist on saying, “Their problems are not my problems.” Or simply ignore the needs of those around us while we sit in abundance?
The first day we were out, we carried five-gallon buckets of water from the well closest to their house. It was down a hill, and not all that close to their house. But we were glad to do it, happy to help them.
The Race has taught me so much, above all, it’s taught me that every person I interact with is going to Heaven or Hell. That might seem “fire and brimstone”, but it’s the truth. If I can offer a smile, if I can say hello, if i can have a conversation, if I can pray for a healing, and those things shine Christ through me, I’m going to do it.
Why do we hold back? Because we’re afraid people will think we’re weird or charismatic? WHO CARES?! This is effecting where people will be for eternity when this life passes. Is anything more important?
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”—Romans 1:16-17
Are we ashamed of who we are?
Then that begs the question, who are we?
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.—Genesis 1:27
You are a creation of the ultimate Creator. Made in His image.
You were made for more. To be loved harder and more than you can imagine.
More to come on identity. But for now, rest and go love on your neighbors. They need you, and you need them. Be willing to raise a hand and ask for help if you need help.
XOXO,
The Roaring Lion
Wow, this is so convicting, so true. We are a strange culture here in America always trying to “do it on our own,” when that’s the whole point of the gospel and the reason He came–We canNOT do it on our own, Amen. Thank you Vickie for all your awesome blog posts, the lions, the coffees…Can’t wait to hang out and serve with you in Nic!! God bless and keep you, until then
I love you encouraging attitude. Way to go….