Shirlee Abbott

Here in the U.S., tensions rise up between neighbors. Political differences become calls to battle. Neighbors call neighbors derogatory names. Occasionally, Bible verses are tuned into weapons to justify one’s position and prove how wrong the other one is.

Here’s a Bible verse to remember:

Love your neighbor as yourself.
(These important words are found in Leviticus, Matthew, Mark, Luke and James; God didn’t want us to miss them.)

Jesus used a parable about a Samaritan and a Jew to explain. Their differences were ancient, ethnic, geographic and religious–as bitter as our red/blue divide. 

Lord Jesus, you call me to love the neighbors with the other candidate’s sign in their yard, the neighbors who post insults to my party on social media. You call me to show mercy and bless these neighbors–in prayer, word and deed. Give me the strength and wisdom to answer Your call. Teach me to shelter my neighbors with Your love.