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If I had been the teacher of the Law, whom we read about in this morning’s gospel, I don’t think I would have tried to get one over Jesus, as he did.   Trying to outsmart Jesus was not a cool thing to do!  But in a way, we ought to be grateful that he tried it on. Because if we were ever in doubt about what the Law of God requires, what the gospel today requires, we have it spelt out very clearly and plainly.

Simply ! –two things!    
1.)  We are to be totally devoted to God! – and    
2.) as loving towards our neighbour as we are of ourselves.

Now that sounds pretty simply. And we have probably heard it many times before.            

But it simply means that if I am to be a Christ-follower, then I am to have as much concern and compassion for the well-being of anyone else as I have for my self. Perhaps I would understand this best if I could simply put myself in the other person's shoes.   

So my neighbour is the person in need, whoever they are. Regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, religion or gender, - whether they are family, friends, acquaintances, or a total stranger.  If they are in need – then loving my neighbour means caring for them, attending to their needs, even at personal cost.  

            And I don’t think loving my neighbour means just caring for the person we happen to come across lying on the side of the road, beaten up and bleeding, - like the unfortunate traveller in the gospel story! We may not come across too many of those!  But it may mean giving help to the Auckland City Mission  - as we did last Sunday on Orange day, it may mean supporting the work of the Hospice;  or visiting the sick; giving to the work of Christian Blind Mission, or giving to the work of the Bible Society  (which is our Missions Special for this month) so that those without hope can take hold of the Word of Life.  It may mean giving sympathy and support to the bereaved ;  friendship and companionship to the lonely – whether young or old – or just being alongside a friend who is going through a hard time in their life!   As Christ-followers, we are called/commissioned/challenged --  even commanded – to help,  because they are in need. We are to love our neighbour as we love ourselves.

And we should not overlook the needs of those who are right here in our own church, either!  There may be those around us whom, in fact, we need to love a whole lot more than we do! Sometimes the small and simple acts of kindness towards those nearest to us are the most easily overlooked and the most frequently neglected.  

This morning, in our quiet time of prayer and Intercessions -  perhaps you can say your own quiet prayer that says something like – “Lord, open my eyes to see those who are in need this week, for whom I can be that person who offers encouragement, or comfort, or support or help in some way or other.”   

               When we offer that help, when we Love our Neighbour, we are showing Christ’s love and compassion in a needy world.   And we show that love because of the need that is before us! - not for any ulterior motive. 

 But having said that, - and lets keep that in the forefront of our mind - I believe God will always use any act of mercy, no matter how small or large,-  for yet another, and might we say, even eternal purpose.  

When we, sinful as we are, and often with mixed motives, yet endeavouring to be disciples of Jesus,  do some act of kindness or mercy for another, -  then that action not only meets the present needs of the recipient but also  becomes the building materials God will use to construct a bridge between that person and Himself.  Some of you will be here today because of the kindness and care and help of others. That help, that love – built a bridge between you and God!   Many of us will find it hard to remember what it was like to be living a life that was far from God. Maybe we have never ever experienced that lostness, or the emptiness, or the alone-ness  which so many around us live with daily.  I look back a far as I can remember and there was never a time when I didn’t know about God, or be aware that there was a God who had said that He loved me and cared for me!

As I got older, I realised that it was one thing to know about this God, and go to church and sing hymns  and say prayers, and sing in the choir and be a server, and to believe (in an academic sense) that He cared for me in some kind of distant way –  but I didn’t know how to get any closer than that.

             For me, it was not until the age of about 21 that I came to an understanding of Jesus’ death on the Cross on my behalf, - and it was THAT that brought home to me, in personal terms, how much He really did love me, and how he wanted me to make that surrender of my life to Him.  Many people don’t know that. They don’t even know that God is real.  But when we show Christ’s love towards them, in tangible real ways, - when we are there for them in their time of need – then we are building that bridge over which, - God willing - one day, we pray they will take that step in response to his love, and become friends with God.    .  Many people in my life had contributed to the building of that bridge which brought me to God.

Now you may not realise what you have been doing, when you have been showing that genuine love, care and consideration,  – when you have been sitting with a friend, or a stranger; giving aid to the needy or comfort to the hurting – but what you have been doing has been evangelism.    And you didn’t even realise it, did you!      Evangelism, at is simplest, is sharing the love of Jesus Christ with others. In showing your love and care towards others, you are helping to build a bridge between them and God. And others who have similarly  touched their lives with compassion, at different times, have been bringing their building materials and adding them to that bridge which God is building.

            And one day, in God’s timing, and by God’s grace, we pray that those who do not yet know the love of God will be drawn by the love of God to walk across that bridge and want to embrace Him, and be embraced by the Father’s love.

            Friends - what God calls us to do is not hard. Sometimes our help, and offers of help, will be accepted, but sometimes they will be rejected!    Sometimes it will be appreciated, sometimes it wont! That’s beside the point!   We do it; we try to love our neighbour, not for the buzz it might give us – but because that’s what we are called to do. We love – because He first loved us!   Showing genuine, sincere and honest love and care for those in need – simply because they ARE  in need – is what God calls us to do.  In fact – loving our neighbours is a sign of our love for God.    St.John says – “If we do not love our neighbour whom we have seen, how can we say we love God whom we have NOT seen!”

 If, in good time they then happen to ask us WHY are you helping?, why are you doing this for me?  WHY do you care? – then we have an opportunity to tell them of the motivating love and grace of God who has called us to serve, nd not before then!.   And THAT’S the point at which many of us find it difficult to know what to say, or how to say it. – and that will be the subject of my next sermon  in a month’s time !

“Love your neighbour”  is not an optional extra for us who seek to follow and serve Jesus Christ.!

It is our calling as friends of Jesus. And St.John says, “Friends, let us love one- another.”

- end.