Let's Be A Good Neighbor!

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When Fred Rogers died on February 27, 2003, scores of newspapers carried the story as front-page news, and almost every headline included the word “neighbor” As host of the long-running children’s television show, Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood, he was well known to millions of children and their parents as a kind, gentle, warm person who genuinely believed “each person is special, deep inside, just the way they are.”

Mr. Rogers once told a journalist, “When we look at our neighbor with appreciative eyes …. with gratitude for who that person truly is, then I feel we are arm in arm with Christ Jesus, the advocate of eternal good.” Because Rogers recognized the value of each person, he believed in being a good neighbor to all.

When Jesus was asked, “Who is my neighbor?” He told the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:29-37). At the conclusion of this story, the Lord asked, “Which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?” The answer? “He who showed mercy on him” (Luke 10:36-37).

Beloved, who in our “neighborhood” needs a kind word, an arm of friendship, or an act of encouragement today? Jesus calls us to show love and compassion to others as we love God with all our heart, and our neighbor as ourselves (Luke 10:27). Remember, our love for our neighbor is proof of our love for God (1 John 4:19-21; cf. Matthew 22:39; John 13:34-35).

Let's be a good neighbor!

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets

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