Number Five is “Loving One Another”
Before I begin, I will be using the word “Jewish”. I have read that there are negative connotations to the word “Jews” and so to try to be as respectful as I can, I will use the term “Jewish”.
I’ll be showing these videos in the way that they match my topics and not necessarily the way they were filmed.
This video discusses the non-profit group Chaverim. The translation of the word is “friends”. They come to the rescue 24/7 to anyone that needs help. I emphasize the word anyone. You don’t have to be Jewish to use this service, but mainly Jewish people are aware of the service. They do everything but medical issues.
I was floored when I watched this video. They have volunteers every hour every day. When they are observing their religious worship or holidays, non-Jewish volunteers help, but they also have non-Jewish volunteers regularly.
This made me think. I have picked two streets in my city. One street has 5 churches on it and another has 6. We all worship the same God, but we disagree about things. One says you put your right foot in and the other says you put your left foot in when you do the hokey pokey and we all forget what it’s all about. I’m including myself in this. What’s it’s all about is JESUS CHRIST.
What a wonderful world it would be if we all could do this. Put all of our resources together in one place and spread help and the love of Christ throughout our community.
As a Christian, what can we learn?
This video discusses that they have 613 commandments. One of the most important ones is “love your neighbor as yourself.” This is found in Leviticus.
“‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.
Leviticus 19:18 (NIV)
Three of the Gospels also talk about this scripture. This is a quote from Mark.
One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”
The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’There is no commandment greater than these.”
Mark 12:28-31 (NIV)
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”
James 1:26-27 (NIV)
“Do not steal. “‘Do not lie. “‘Do not deceive one another.”
Leviticus 19:11 (NIV)
“And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another.”
2 John 1:5 (NIV)
Read 1 John. Over and over he says “love one another”.
What is my take-away? Help when you can. Say a prayer for them. Do something nice for someone today and remember to love one another!
If you want to read more about Chaverim, here is the link
