Love thy Neighbour as thy Self – Rev Barnes charges Christians

Head Pastor of Possible Vision Church (PVC) Rev. Christian Barnes, has charged his members in particular and Christians in general to endeavor to exhibit love to their neighbors at all times. He maintained that such love should not be exhibited only during the yuletide, but also throughout their life time.

This is because, Christ, their master stood for love, subsequently, their (Christians) show of love should be the agape type.

Rev. Barnes made this charge during a sermon in the auditorium of the church at Gbawe Gonse in Accra on Christmas day, December 25, 2022.

Citing Luke 10:25-37, on the story of the “Good Samaritan”, Rev. Barnes noted that this display of love should not only be with compassion but also indiscriminately as Christ died.

Dilating on the story, he recounted how Jesus Christ charged the enquiring lower to exhibit love to a neighbor or friend. Rev. Barnes told the story of how a Jewish man, travelling from Jerusalem to Jericho fell into the hands of robbers, beaten wounded and left half-dead by the road side. He narrated how a priest, a levite came to pass by, saw the victim but pretended seeing nothing, and went their way.

He indicated that it had to take the turn of a despised Samaritan passing by, to go the aid of the poor victim, cleansed him the blood on him, poured oil into his mounds, put him on his own horse and took him to an inn for medication.

Rev. Barnes stated further how the good Samaritan made half payment of the medication of the victim and promised to pay for the extra cost on his return.

According to him, after this narration, Jesus asked the enquiring lawyer, who was the true friend of the victim and charged the lawyer to go and do same.

The Reverend Minster indicated that this charge is not only meant for the enquiring lawyer, but for all Christians. Stressing, “A friend is the one who comes in, when all others have left!”

Rev. Barnes noted with regret how, of late, Christians have become not only individualistic, but also, so selfish, an self-scented to such extent that, even sharing mare greetings with others has become a problem. He pointed at that such negative behavours do not help, since everybody needs somebody at a particular time, and that openness opens closed gates.

He ended his sermon with Galatians 5:22, hammering on the good fruits of love such as joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control which he described as the best fruits of the spirit.

These, Rev. Barnes charged all Christians to endeavour to live by, so as to make the world a happy place to live in.   

By S.O Ankamah