Got Neighbors?
The Bible
says, “But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour? And Jesus answering said, A certain
man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him,
and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him,
he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed
by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion
on him, And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast,
and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them
to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.
Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? And he said, He that shewed mercy
on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.” Luke 10:28-37 (KJV)
Catherine Booth was the “mother” of the Salvation Army. “Wherever Catherine Booth went,” said
G. Campbell Morgan, “humanity went to hear her. Princes and peeresses merged with paupers and prostitutes.”
One night, Morgan shared in a meeting with Mrs. Booth; and a great crowd of “publicans and
sinners” was there. Her message brought many to Christ.
After the meeting,
Morgan and Mrs. Booth went to be entertained at a fine home; and the lady of the manor said, “My dear Mrs. Booth, that
meeting was dreadful”
“What do you mean, dearie?” asked Mrs. Booth.
“Oh, when you were speaking, I was looking at those people opposite to me. Their faces were
so terrible, many of them. I don’t think I shall sleep tonight!”
“Why,
dearie, don’t you know them?” Mrs. Booth asked; and the hostess replied, “Certainly not!”
“Well, that is interesting,” Mrs. Booth said. “I did not bring them with me from
London; they are your neighbors!”
A wise man once said to me, “If you want to have good
neighbors…be a good neighbor!”
Daily Chronological Bible Reading: Luke 10-11; John 10:22-42
