"Won't You be My Neighbor?"

Stephen and Debbie Gilliland hosted a block party in their neighborhood for "Don't go to church, Be the Church" weekend. Over 50 of their neighbors, children to Seniors, came to their house to eat and meet. A few of their neighbors that came, up to that day, they had only seen in passing. That night they did not just learn their neighbor's names, they laid a foundation of friendship that they are continuing to build upon.

The Gillilands shared how this has opened the door for them to share about their faith in Christ and their church family. The reason they are sharing is because their neighbor's are asking. Then, last Saturday evening their was a knock on the door. Three little girls, sisters, were standing in the cold when Stephen opened the door. The girls said, "Grandpa Steve, can we have a cup of milk?" The mother was too embarrassed to make the request, but the girls were not. Stephen had just bought a fresh gallon that day. He gave it all to the girls. All of this because they opened their home and said come on in.

How can we love our neighbor as Jesus commands, if we do not even know our neighbors? I will be the first to admit, I am quite comfortable not knowing my neighbors, but from the day we moved in three years ago, God challenged us that loving our neighbors requires us to get to know them. So, Kimberly and I have seized every opportunity possible to get to know our neighbors. What we have discovered is we truly do love our neighbors. We have great neighbors. Of course, you wonder if they think the same of you. Then this month we received an invitation from two different neighbors to come to their homes.

My point is, this: God does not have you in your neighborhood, country home, apartment complex or condo so you can keep to yourself and escape the world. He has you there to be the Church where you live. You are there to make Christ's love tangible. The question is are you?

If not, it does not take a lot. A simple wandering across the street and knocking on the door is a great start. Making sure your light is on to hand out candy on Halloween is an even easier opportunity--your neighbor's will actually come to you. Just do something to love your neighbor and then don't be surprised when you are the one God uses to fill a child's cup with milk and a families hearts with hope.