Sign in the Yard

 

For sale.   I saw the sign go up in front of a home in our neighborhood.   I was not surprised to see the sign.  The owners were ready to move on.  Before I saw the for sale sign, I saw some signs that alerted me that  a home sale and move might be coming.  I had seen law enforcement cars and officers standing in front of the house conversing with those homeowners and their next door neighbor.   Local law enforcement officers were there talking to both homeowners not once or twice, but  several times.    Signs indicated that  there were issues between these two neighbors.  Shortly after the first visit of law enforcement to by neighbors  I saw a fence and “no trespassing” signs erected at one of these neighbors home along with bright lights shining around their house in the dark of night.  

I am sure there is a story about the issues between these neighbors.   I am certain there were things done and things said by all parties.   I know not the whole story, but I do know the end result-  a “for sale” sign and neighbors moving out.    There is another sign I need to tell you about.  “Thank you Jesus”, the sign says.   It is there in the yard of one of these neighbors.  The Jesus that sign talks about was asked about neighbors one day.   Luke 10 tells us about it:

²⁵ On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”  ²⁶ “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”  ²⁷ He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’^[c]; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’^[d]”  ²⁸ “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”²⁹ But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”³⁰ In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. ³¹ A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. ³² So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. ³³ But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. ³⁴ He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. ³⁵ The next day he took out two denarii^[e] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’³⁶ “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”  ³⁷ The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”  Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”       Perhaps we need to begin to “thank you Jesus” not just by posting a sign in our yard but in how we interact with the people right next door.  Have a joy-filled week.-  Pastor Randy Wall

 

PRAYER  -  Living and loving God, help us to love one another even as you love us.  Forgive us for the times we love you and others with our lips and not with our lives; through Christ our Lord.  Amen.