Stop today.
Yes, let’s stop and look around our world.
I live in the country. I have always lived in the country.
Often, we step out into the yard (we do….the country folk) and see the houses that dot the landscape—-our neighbors.   We know them by name, we may know their work schedule, and we may even know their children’s names.
Others live in the towns and cities.  In fact, others have always lived in the towns and cities. 
Often, they step onto the sidewalks (they do….the city folk) and see the houses next door and down the street, houses so close that they see the blue curtains hanging in the front room.  They know their street name, the street behind them, and the old man who has lived on the corner for as long as they have lived in that place.
Let’s stop today and look around our world.  During this week, my mom and I took a drive 2.5 hours south, and as we did, we passed through many towns, communities, and stretches of area where no one seemed to dwell. As we drove, we talked, we looked out our car windows, and we talked some more.  The conversation centered upon various topics…strung together…connected by the sights we were seeing through our front and side windows. 
I wonder why they have that front porch that’s filled with so much stuff?
I wonder why they built their home right here, so close to the hillside?
I wonder where they go to buy their groceries because they seem so far away from everything.

Do we live a few minutes from everything and (out)—in the middle of nowhere?
Do we live a few houses from someone we know—but away from the important concerns that keep them up at night?
Do we see a light shining in the window (in the house in the distance)—and wonder what has caused the family members to rise so early?
Do we drive down our streets, avenues, roads, highways, and interstates—concerned, even caring, that we are not just passing by brick and mortar, but mothers, dads, grandparents, siblings, children, people, souls saved and souls still lost to God?
Do we pass by, uncaring?
Do we pass by, half-heartedly seeking God’s mercy and grace for the ones we pass—but “play” acting like we care for our neighbors?
Do we really care?
Do we even know that we don’t really care?
Do we rationalize with ourselves and say, “This is not our neighborhood, but someone else’s.  This is not our home. This is too far from where we live. We will care for those who surround us while others will care for their neighbors who surround them.”
BUT DO WE?
Do we care?
Do we know their names?
Do we know what keeps them up at night?
Do we know what makes them walk their floors?
Do we know their concerns?  Their joys?  Their hopes?  Their future plans?  Do we know them……the others…..the strangers we may never know……the neighbors who sit inside our buildings of employment, the neighbors we pass as we go to the breakroom or to the restroom, or the neighbors we talk with near the copy machines?
Do we even know the names of those who worship with us…..those who sit across from us each week within the walls of our local churches?
Do we know their names?  Do we know their children’s names?  Do we know their prayer concerns?    Do we know their altar requests?  Do we care to know their—-anything?
Do we know anyone outside our small bubble, outside those we call our acquaintances and friends?
Do we care that we don’t……know their names?
Do we care that we don’t…..know their struggles?
Do We……..Care?

• WWJD.
• What Would Jesus Do…..If He Lived where we lived?
• What Would Jesus Do…..If Jesus worked and shopped where we work and where we shop?
• What Would Jesus Do…..If He worshipped each week where we worship?
• What Would Jesus Want Us To Do…..If We Were Him?
• YES, WHAT….WOULD….JESUS….(HAVE US)….TO….DO?

So many questions for this middle day of the week.
Stop today.
Yes, Let us stop today;  Let us look around our communities;  Let us look down our streets;  Let us look at the desk across the room at our workplace;  Let us look at the apartment doors we walk past as we walk toward our doors;  Let us look at who worships across the aisles from us at chuch;  Let Us Look AND Let Us Care.
It is what Jesus would do.
In the Bible, Jesus spoke to a man, a lawyer by trade, to a person who had questions for Jesus to answer.  We are that man.  We have questions for Jesus?  We wonder—-things—-about our lives, our careers, our families, our finances, our futures, and our everything. 
This lawyer stood up and put Jesus to the test. 

The lawyer knew.
The man knew the answers to the questions Jesus asked him.
The man knew the answers before he even asked Jesus the questions. 
And then Jesus does what He always does—-He teaches us by applying the answer to our question to our daily lives.  Jesus helps us understand His teachings, His Word, by allowing us to see the answers to our questions…..
WITHIN the CONTEXT of WHO WE ARE  &
WHERE WE LIVE  &
WHERE WE WORK   &
WHAT WE ALREADY KNOW  &
WHAT WE ALREADY UNDERSTAND ABOUT HIS HOLY SCRIPTURES. 
JESUS MEETS US RIGHT WHERE WE ARE….
RIGHT THERE….
RIGHT HERE…..AND
JESUS ALWAYS REVEALS HIMSELF TO US.
ALWAYS.

Who is my neighbor?
What dominates my thoughts?
Who dominates my affections?
What stops me and causes me to see my world?  my neighborhood?

Jesus tells the man a story (a parable) that reveals God’s truth to the man, and at the end of the story (the parable)…

Jesus knows that the lawyer (the man) knows.
At the end of Jesus’ parable,…

The man knows that Jesus knows that he (the man) understands the teaching, the TRUTH. 

Jesus speaks to the lawyer, to the man who is full of questions—-who knows the answer before he asks the questions——who sees, but does not see—-who looks, but who does not really look—-who may think he cares, but who does not really show that he cares.

Our Community. 
Our Street & Road & Town. 
Our Workplace.
Our Place of Worship.
Help us not become so caught up in the notion in what we say to others about God’s love that we forget to love….As Jesus teaches us to love.
Help us not become so caught up in our lives that we forget what we are called to do….Exactly What Jesus Would Do Toward All We Encounter Today.
Help us to see others (today), those God places within our day—
Our Co-workers.
Our Co-commuters.
Our Co-Lifers Who We Are Given To Live Beside Today.
Our Community Dwellers.
Our……Humanity.
People. Others. Our Neighbors.
Those who are placed within our paths today. 
Help Us To Do What Jesus Would Do; Help Us To Speak As Jesus Would Speak; Help Us To Act As Jesus Would Act, and Help Us To Care As Jesus Would Care….Help Us To…..“Go and do the same.”