Jesus showed love to unlikely neighbors. Read Matthew 8:5-13. As a Jewish Rabbi, there were rules that needed to be followed. For example, a Jewish Rabbi would not enter the house of a Roman soldier and certainly would avoid any contact with him. We can examine this story and focus on so many important aspects, like the faith of the centurion or the miracle that Jesus performed. Instead, let’s focus on the very unlikely event that a conversation even started. The centurion took a very humble position, asking a Jewish person for help. The Romans ruled a great empire. A centurion was the commander of 100 Roman soldiers. The Jews were a conquered people. So the first surprise is that the Roman centurion approached Jesus. The second surprise is that Jesus received the centurion and offered to go to his house to help the centurion’s servant. As followers of Jesus, we need to take notice. Who are the unlikely neighbors that we are hesitant to have conversations with, to visit with, to be in fellowship with? Jesus has called us to make disciples for the transformation of the world. Jesus modeled transformation by being open to his unlikely neighbors. We must also maintain openness to people who don’t look like us or act like us. God is already at work in someone’s life, and perhaps God is leading that person to you today.

Lord Jesus, help me to love my neighbor today, even a neighbor that I wouldn’t normally expect. Give me an openness to receive the neighbor you send my way today. Amen.