Unshackled Moments ~ May 3 ~ Venerating Our Neighbor

sacred / adjective: connected with God or dedicated to a religious/spiritual purpose and so deserving veneration.

connected / verb past tense or past participle: 1. brought together or into contact so that a real link is established. 2. Joined together so as to provide access and communication. 3. Linked to a power or water supply.

veneration / noun great respect; reverence.

The people we encounter are our neighbors. Jesus made that clear when He told the story of the good Samaritan in answer to the very question of who is our neighbor. We think of the Bible, churches, certain rites and relics as being sacred, but the truth is that the most sacred things in our lives after the presence of an indwelling God is in fact our neighbor, those we encounter...our family, friends, enemies and strangers at the gate.

The very Word of God that spoke creation into being took on flesh and became a man. Jesus died and rose again so that we could be brought into contact in such a way that a real link is established for access to, communication and relationship with the Ultimate Power supply, the Living Water, the Creator of all and One True God. God paid a costly price for the chance to connect with you. That means that you and I are of great value to Him. So is the guy who cut you off in traffic and the woman who blocked the aisle at Wal-Mart, and the unbeliever whose actions spit in the face of everything that we hold dear. Those are all people that God values so much He suffered and died for the chance of connection, in hopes that they will one day respond to His love. Anyone the God of the universe values so highly is worthy of our great respect.

If we claim to follow Jesus we have no right to treat any person we encounter as though they are worthless and have no value. When we treat a person as though they are nothing and should be discarded we are saying that Christ came and died for nothing. To follow Jesus we are to obey Him and do as He did. What did He do? He died for people who could never deserve it, who by human standards would never be worth such a price. What did He command? Love.

Lord, let Your will reign in my life. Rule over my reactions to others. Help me to respond to those I encounter, even those who offend, irritate and hurt me with Your love and treat them as though they have great value, because Your actions prove that they do. Thank You for assigning all of us such worth. Amen.