Today Jim preached on ‘Who is my neighbour’.

He challenged us to consider the command of Jesus to love others as we love ourselves.

It’s very easy to love those that are like us or those we like, but he pointed that anyone can do that. Jesus calls us to love those we find it hard to be with as well. He challenges us to see Jesus in all of his creation – which includes every person we come across.

Living in Medway I often hear people, even some from churches, talk of Chav scum. Other times at football I here people talk of Millwall (a rival local football team)fans as scum. In fact, not long ago a friend told Tom that a certain set of fans were all scum and Sarah and myself obviously had to challenge that immediately. You see, I think if we don’t, and we do believe God created all, in effect we are labeling God with whatever term we choose to label others.

Jesus was asked what was the most important commandment. He replied saying there were 2:

1. To love the lord your God with all your heart, mind and soul.

2. To love your neighbour as yourself.

This morning Jim suggested that 2 was a clear indication of the strength of 1. This is hard to stomach, but I think he might be right. The measure of how much we love God will show in the quality of relationships we have and how we treat others around us.

It’s kind of easy to love friends. It;’s often harder to love family. Its easy to give money. I think, though, Jesus demands a lot more.

Somewhere in the Bible Jesus says ‘Whatever you did for one of these, you did for me’. We cab read into that he was also meaning, ‘whatever you did not do for these, you did not do for me’. That’s quite a sobering thought.

I left church with some questions this morning:

How often have I ignored Jesus.

How often have I seen him and hidden in the shop doorway?

How often have I neglected to phone or visit him when I know he needed just that?

How often have I hurt him with thoughts or actual words?

How often have I talked about him behind his back?

Have I ever called Jesus scum?

The picture Berikan cinta pada sesama (Love your neighbour)is by an Indonesion artist Taring Padi