As my wife and I felt the Lord calling us to move, the daydreaming began. We imagined our new dream home, new amenities, new décor. Once the Lord opened the door for us and we packed up the moving truck, we imagined another “new” in our lives: new neighbors. I reflected on the myriad of opportunities to love my neighbors, share the gospel, and serve my community that I had missed over the years in my old neighborhood. Yet, moving to a new home opens new opportunities for hospitality, service, and evangelism with those God has placed in our new neighborhood. We are resolved to obey Christ in His call to love our neighbors as ourselves by resolving to be good new neighbors in these four ways:
Resolved to Pray
As we continue to knock on doors and make introductions, we are committed to building a habit of praying for our new neighbors. In the past, I haven’t known many of my neighbors well enough to pray with depth. Now, we will get to know our neighbors by praying for them. It may be that no one comes to Christ in my neighborhood and that the relationships I hope for never form. Regardless, I can love my neighbors by bringing them before the throne of God and making petitions on their behalf.
God loves our neighbors more than we ever could. God knows them better than we ever will. Let us honor the Lord (and our neighbors) by being a people resolved to pray on their behalf. When you meet a new neighbor, write down their name so you can remember it, ask them for their prayer requests, and then pray!
Resolved to Pursue
Easy opportunities to build a relationship exist when you are a new neighbor, freshly moved in. Our instinct is to settle in quickly for the sake of our own comfort. We want those boxes emptied, bedframes built, and then to hit the pillow in our new fortress of solitude. However, with a new home comes not just a new commute, but also a new community. God has given you the blessing of a new home, the blessing of neighbors, and the opportunity to be a neighborly blessing. When we move, we find ourselves called to a new mission field with an old mission. Be resolved to pursue your neighbors. Pursue relationships with your neighbors through traditional hospitality, despite the imperfections of your half-painted bathroom or your half-empty boxes laying around.
Moreover, pursue more than just brief moments with your neighbors. Are there nearby parks to spend some quality time while your kids burn off some energy? Are there local coffee shops that you’ve been eager to try? Are there common areas in your apartment or dorm lobby? Those spaces can provide a meaningful opportunity to pursue new friendships and evangelism with those God has entrusted to you.
Resolved to Portray
The pursuit of love for others in a new neighborhood isn’t only an effort to bless those across the street. In this pursuit, you portray obedience to Christ for those around you—most critically, your own family and children. In my old neighborhood, there were girls the same age as my daughters. They never jumped on our trampoline or had a tea party with my girls. That is not my daughter’s fault—it’s my fault. The opportunity for obedience to my King was ever present and I was not desperate enough to model that for their young hearts. After moving, I am resolved not to make the same mistake.
They must learn by example that Christians have a calling from God to love our neighbors. Will our kids learn that lesson from us? May we be a portrait of obedience to the King so that those in our life see the Kingdom lived out through us.
Resolved to Praise
We are called to be a people who love our neighbors because our Savior took their place on the cross and died for their sin, just as he did for ours. We may be the most hospitable, friendly neighbors the world has ever seen, but if the love of Christ is not within us, it will end in vanity. Therefore, may we be resolved to praise the name of Jesus in all places, at all times, to all people. Wherever the Lord may place you, His wisdom has you there on purpose. You need not wait until you move somewhere new to be good neighbor. If you haven’t prayed, pursued, or portrayed Christ to your neighbors, you can resolve to begin today. But if God has brought you somewhere new, resolve to be a good new neighbor.
