Lesson Five • The Lord’s Prayer – Part Two
Devotion 6: Loving Your Neighbor

Pastor John Carter

Today, we are going to reflect on this week’s main passage. Jesus is teaching us some really important things about the power of prayer. Matthew 6:11-13 says, “Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”

If you missed one of the deeper explanations of these verses, let me encourage you to go back and walk through them. I pray you will find them challenging and encouraging. In every aspect of this week’s study of the Lord’s Prayer, there is an element of how showing love to our neighbor, and ultimately to our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, plays an important role in our prayer life.

Community is so important for the believer’s walk and growth in Christ. Let me ask you a question, “Do you have a serious commitment to walk with a community of believers?” We live in a world that can be more connected to each other than at any time in history, yet community seems to be one of the greatest longings people have. I think I need to clarify this a little. When I say community, I am not talking about a facade of people that share some small things in common like sports, work, or hobbies. When I talk about community, I am talking about people that you can be real with. It is people you can be authentic with. I know that idea of authenticity is scary. What if they do not like the real you? What if they are not anything like you? I would rather be real and genuine with someone than have to put on a facade or a fake front. The church body is made up of many different kinds of people; that is a fact. Some of those people think through things in a completely different manner. Guess what? We need “different” in our life. We need people that are not exactly like us so that we can learn to better each other. This idea of community is not just some random idea I have, it is actually in the Bible:

  • “For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.” Romans 12:4-5

  • “For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body – Jews or Greeks, slaves or free – and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many.” 1 Corinthians 12:12-14

  • “Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.” Ephesians 4:25

Being in community with one another is all throughout Scripture. I just listed some of the major ones, but there are so many that teach about this idea of being there for one another. The Old Testament teaches it in the form of loving your neighbor. Jesus also teaches it in this context of loving your neighbor. Today, as you are preparing to gather together with one another tomorrow, consider how you can get connected with the community. Maybe it means making yourself vulnerable. Are you willing to put it out there that you need and desire a community to be real and authentic with? If you do not want to wait until Sunday, just text “riverconnect” to 97000 and ask if there is a community of believers that is meeting near you. We call them Growth Communities. Who knows, they might be getting together tonight. You could find yourself connecting with a group of fellow believers that love God and are learning how to love one another.

Let me leave you with this passage in Hebrews. Consider how you can do this today for someone you know. Hebrews 10:24-25 says, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

You can do this by getting to know someone more than just the surface stuff. It means to really be genuine in getting to know them. Get to know them so well you can authentically pray for them. You can pray against the temptations the evil one will set before them. That is really getting to know someone. Maybe you need to open up, and know you are not alone. God gave us each other so we could have help when we face adversity, temptation, and trials. Share it with someone. Let them encourage you. Be blessed and look forward to gathering together tomorrow as the church.