An Opportunity

For about a year I’ve been struggling with a neighbor and it weighs heavily. With others, she seems like a normal, mature adult but, when it’s just the two of us she's completely different.  She’s convinced herself I’m in need of help and she’s the one to fix me.  She’s gone as far as taking my face in her hands and visually “pleading” with me to cooperate. 

God tells us in Matthew “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy Neighbour as thyself.   On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”  

Basic, basic Christian principles:  

John 3:16 For God so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  

1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

God our Saviour; 4Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

Dallas Willard says “An 'apprentice’ of Jesus is learning from Him how to lead their life as He would lead their life if He were they.”  

My original request to her: “Please leave me alone.”  How easy that would have been for me but that’s not God’s plan.  If “good enough” was the standard, there would be churches full of “good little (faux) Christians.”  God created every last person on this earth to grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 3:18 He longs to have a deep, meaningful relationship with every one of us.  

Evidently, this is an opportunity if I’m willing to accept it.  Day after day possible solutions have come to mind but of course, the only ones with substance involved glorifying God, and her salvation.  Love thy neighbor as thyself, just would’t go away, no matter how I figured ity.  To be honest, I can’t imagine smiling sincerely at her.  Matthew 19:26 But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”