Meet Tiffany Amerson

As if perfectly on cue, my daughter just started an episode of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood in the playroom. Can you hear the theme song in your head now? “It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood, A beautiful day for a neighbor, Would you be mine? Could you be mine? Won’t you be my neighbor?” 

Mr. Rogers was serious about his neighboring. Do you know why? Because he knew what Romans 13:10 meant and lived it out.

In Romans 13:8-9, Paul explains how loving your neighbor as yourself is fulfilling the law. Then in verse 10a he says, “Love does no wrong to a neighbor." I think most of us would agree that, of course, it would be unloving for us to do wrong things to our neighbor; but what if we are wronging our neighbor by not engaging lovingly with them at all?

The Greek word Paul uses in this verse is agape ( uh-GOP-ay), meaning charity, faithfulness, commitment, benevolence, an act of the will. Agape love was embodied perfectly in Christ's life, death, and resurrection. He fulfilled the entire law with His agape act of love! 

We are commanded in Romans 13:10 to love our neighbors by sharing God’s agape love story with them. This requires action. 

Do you know your neighbors? God has placed people who were made in His image right next door to you. Why? Because you know Christ’s agape love story and He wants you to share it with them!

It starts small. Engage with your neighbors when you see them outside. Share a meal with them. Share some small piece of your struggle with them. Show them that you’re human and that Jesus welcomes us even when we are not okay. If Mr. Rogers can do it, so can you!

I can joyfully tell you that my neighborhood relationships are blossoming and are such a blessing to my family. We find reasons to share meals, care for one another’s children, share truth, and bear one another’s burdens. My neighbors rock! Who else is going to tell me that my preschooler is walking down the street with no pants?