Neighborhood Watch: Looking Out for Your Neighbor

By Abi Lasquety Ruelo

This new series for the love month tells us to watch over our neighbors because God created them worthy in His eyes. How do you measure your neighbor’s worth? D you measure in terms of position? Or annual income? Of intelligence? God tells us to measure a person’s worth by the standard that He gave them when He made them. No amount of measurement in the world will suffice. Is your neighbor precious in your eyes? Because he is definitely precious in the eyes of God.

When you look at the stars in the heaven, are you in awe? Does it “wow” you when you see all of God’s creation? Do you also say “wow” when you look at your neighbor? Why not? He is a creation of God too! Genesis 1:14-15 says, “Then God said, “Let lights appear in the sky to separate the day from the night. Let them be signs to mark the seasons, days, and years. Let these lights in the sky shine down on the earth.” And that is what happened.” When God made most of His creation, He spoke them into being. The Hebrew word used for “create is “bara.” He spoke them into existence. But in Genesis 2:7, it says, ““Then the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person.” When God created man, He used the Hebrew word, “yatsar,” meaning “formed,” as in He fashioned or formed man signifying a deliberate or purposeful shaping, of ten used to describe a potter’s work. Why did God not just “speak” man into being? He could have easily said, “Let there be man,…” And there was man. Why did He have to fashion man in His own image and likeness?

God made man special because He has a special purpose for Him. He has a special purpose for each and every one of His creations. That is why you should look out for your neighbors. Because if not, somebody else will look out for them. And if that happens, they might turn up somewhere else rather than in heaven.

Why should you look out for your neighbors?

1. You are formed with precision. Genesis 2:7A says, “Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust in te ground,…” You are all unique beings, formed in God’s image and likeness, to serve the purpose He has for each and every one of you. Think of what you can do that your neighbors cannot do and think of what he can do that you cannot do. You are here on earth to complement each other. Every one is created for a specific purpose that is why each one is important. God took special care in forming you in your mother’s womb and He created you precisely how He needs you to be.

2. You are filled with God’s breath.Genesis 2:7B says, “and he breathed into his nostrils the breath of life,…” God only breathed on man. Although hHe also formed the animals, He did not breathe on them. This shows how precious man is to Him. Every inch of your body is filled with God’s breath. If you think your life is useless and you have no use in this world, think again and remember that you are filled with God’s breath. He wants you here alive to do His will. He needs you on this earth to do what he asks you to do. Job 12:10 also says, “For the life of every living thing is in His hands, and the breath of every human being.”

3. You bear God’s image. Genesis 1:26 says, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness.” Although nobody has seen God, surely you resemble Him somehow because you were created in His image and likeness. They say you should be the bible that many people do not read because you bear God’s image. When you walk out of church, remember to bear God’s image. Also, look at your neighbors in God’s eyes,  in the image God gave them. God loves everyone and you should too.

I know this is not an easy task. But what can you do?

1. Care for your body and soul. Psalms 139:13-14 says, “You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.” God took great care in creating you; you are very important to Him. So you have to take care of your body and most especially your soul. The bible says your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Take care of your body very well. Be careful what you watch and listen to. They affect how you think even if you say otherwise.

2. See other’s with God’s eyes. 1 Samuel 16:7 says, “But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”” How do you see your neighbor up front? Do you look at them with God’s eyes? Most of the time, people make judging a way of life. They think they can see through their neighbor’s actions and motives. But let God be the judge and just always see the best in people. Let love be the judging point.

3. Reflect God always. Ephesians 5:1-2A says, “Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ.” You are created in the image and likeness of God. And God is love. When you walk the streets, you should reflect God always. Reflect His love. Reflect His mercy. Reflect His grace. Reflect His forgiveness. Always. The minute you wake up until you go to sleep. Your main goal is to become Christlike. There is no excuse in not being a reflection of Him.

2 Corinthians 3:18 says, “So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image. The Lord makes you more and more like Him as you are changed into His glorious image by obeying Him everyday. It’s not magic that happens overnight. Sanctification takes a lifetime. But the God who makes you change is also the God that stands by you as you are changing, little by little, for His glory. He is helping you get from point A to point B, one step at a time. So watch out for each other and make sure that in the end, you all have the same destination which is heaven.