welcome to today's encouragement from our daily bread today's reading was written by Amy Boucher pie and she titled it loving our neighbors
 in the days of self isolation and lockdown during the coronavirus pandemic words by Martin Luther King Jr in his letter from a Birmingham Jail rang true speaking about Injustice he remarked how he couldn't sit idly in one city and not be concerned about what happens in another we are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality he said tied in a single Garment of Destiny whatever affects one directly affects us all indirectly
 likewise the covid-19 pandemic highlighted our connectedness as a round the world cities and countries closed to stop the spread of the virus What affected once it could soon affect another
 many centuries ago God instructed his people how to show concern for others through Moses he gave the Israelites the law to guide them and help them live together in Leviticus 19 he told them to not do anything that endangers your neighbor's life and to not seek revenge or bear a grudge against others but to love your neighbor as yourself God knew that communities would start to unravel if people didn't look out for others valuing their lives as much as they did their own
 we two can embrace the wisdom of God's instructions as we go about our daily activities we can remember how interconnected we are with others as we asked him how to love and serve them well
 now join me as I read from Leviticus chapter 19 verses 15 through 18
 do not pervert Justice do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great but judge your neighbor fairly do not go about spreading slander among your people do not do anything that endangers your neighbor's life I am the Lord do not hate a fellow Israelite in your heart rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in their guilt do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people but love your neighbor as yourself I am the Lord
 let's pray loving Creator help us to share your love and Grace today with everyone thank you Lord It's in Jesus name we pray amen
 thanks for listening today my name is Rochelle traube and today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread Ministries