- God's Love GeneratesSparks of Love - Bethany and Josh
According to the Message Bible, God's ultimate motivation for creation is love. In fact, John 3:16 suggests God created everything through the root of Christ. Christians believe that through Christ Jesus, mankind is instructed to honor and love all creation for everything reflects God's motivation of love.
In 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, the Apostle Paul proposes that love possesses the seed to change reality. Just as when a person looks in the mirror and sees their own reflection, so too a manifestation of love carries with it the potential to awaken the promises of God.
Paul recommends (the invisible spark of love—the good that exists in all realities and suggests that perhaps the true office of mankind is to redeem the fallen sparks; that only love can pass through the inner dimension of spirit, reunite with the divine spark of God and awaken the responsibility for ones neighbor.
According to the Bible and Torah, God's word was deliberate so that all humanity and creation would serve as Saint Francis Assisi so eloquently suggested as an "instrument of Thy peace."
World-renowned philanthropists Bill Gates and Oprah Winfrey operate in this overlooked biblical promise for wholeness and prosperity known as the "Neighbor Blessing." It is one of the fallen sparks which brings with it devotion and dedication to ones fellowman.
The Neighbor Commandment
In Matthew 22:34-40, Jesus is asked by a Scribe (an expert in Mosaic law), "Which is the greatest commandment in the law?"
Jesus replied, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the law and the prophets hang on these two commandments.”
A reflective study of Christ's teaching reveals that in reality there are but two commandments, not ten. According to the Torah, the first four commandments given to the children of Israel are contained in the statement: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." It continues that the last six commandments are wrapped in the statement: "Love your neighbor as yourself."
The Parable of the Good Samaritan
The Hebrew word for "neighbor" is "shachen." Yet in the Torah, there is an explicit commandment, which states that a close friendship or companion should only be established with another Jew. Most religions have similar ideas regarding relationships. For instance, the bible suggests 'light should not fellowship with darkness.' The Quran explicitly warns Muslims not to walk with infidels. Yet according to Christianity, Jesus introduces a new concept of "neighbor" to the world community.
In Luke 10:25-36, Jesus salvages the fallen sparks from Exile and reunites them with the divine spark. Here, he shares the parable of the Good Samaritan, a spark of love and a love story about a stranger helping another stranger in need.
Love Your Neighbor as Yourself
A modern example of the "neighbor blessing" can be found in the world community’s response to provide aid and resources to the people of Haiti. The country had been devastated by a catastrophic earthquake in early 2010.
esus once said that each human being would be rewarded or judged on earth by how they treated those who have the least. But not everyone agrees with this biblical principle. Even the Pharisees and Scribes of Jesus’ day argued its validity. In Luke 10:25-29, a lawyer excused himself from this responsibility when he raised the question, "who is my neighbor?”
Still the Hebrew phrase, veahavta l'reyacha kamocha, translates "You shall love your neighbor as your self.' According to the Bible and Torah one of two great commandments. 1 Corinthians 13:4 advocates that choosing the "higher self "and not allowing personal beliefs and prejudices to exile love is mankind's highest calling. For it was in this context that Jesus gave His life and shared with all creation the "Neighbor Blessing.”
Sources:
The Message Bible
New Living Translation Bible
New King James Bible
New American Standard Bible
Multi-source Bible Dictionary
Zondervan NIV Matthew Henry Commentary
The Holy Quran
TiAja Ellis - Conversational writer with expertise in the craft of white papers, article writing, fiction and nonfiction.
