Let the Imago Dei of your Neighbors Motivate You

 


We live in a culture where we are always in a hurry and we hide behind phones and garage doors that cause us to avoid neighborly interaction. 

It is hard to love your neighbor if you do not see your neighbor. 

We must see our neighbors. We must see their value.

My neighbors have successes and they have hurts. My neighbors are not a bunch of faceless nobodies. They are made in the image of God (Imago Deo) and they have names.

Every person in my neighborhood has been marked by the finger of God and made in God's image (Imago Dei). They have tremendous value. But they also have needs.

Francis Schaeffer (author) refers to humans as "glorious ruins."

According to Chris and Elizabeth McKinney in their book, "Placed for a Purpose," when we forget our neighbors are glorious ruins it is easy to do one of three things:  1. When we see only glory, we envy them. 2. When we see only ruin, we judge them. 3. When we do not see them at all, we ignore them.

What do you see when you see your neighbors? Are any of them non-neighbors do you?

Your neighbors have gifts and abilities. They also have needs and weaknesses. Both a glory that motivates our respect and ruin that motivates our compassion.

Let the Imago Dei of your neighbors motivate you to take action!

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David Burton is a published author (with books on neighboring coming soon). Learn more at https://www.amazon.com/author/davidlburton

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