Pretend


"If you see your neighbor's ox or sheep wondering away, don't pretend not to see it. Take it back to its owner. ... If you see your neighbor's ox or donkey lying on the road, do not look the other way. Go and help your neighbor get it to its feet!" Deut. 22:1,4

Awhile ago, as we were leaving our house, a dog I didn't know wandered into our garage. My wife immediately recognized her as our neighbor's dog who had undoubtedly made an escape. After coaxing her into our car, we drove to their house and delivered her to some greatly relieved kids who had been running through the neighborhood looking for her. It was just the right thing to do.

This principle of just doing the right thing is one that permeates the Old Testament law. The verses for the day reflect it with the command to return a lost animal and to help a neighbor when they need it. Sometimes, it's easier to just look the other way isn't it? What we don't see, we don't feel obligated to do anything about it. 

Our natural tendency to be self-centered often times causes us to leave opportunities to love our neighbors to someone else. That's not the heart God wants us to have. This temptation to pretend we don't see gains traction in our lives when we leave no margin of time, energy, or resources to lend a helping hand. What is one adjustment you could make to increase margins in your life?
  

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