Love your neighbour as yourself

This week we had the most amazing camp. Centred around the topic of "love your neighbour as yourself" , we had several speeches and workshops investigating the subject further. There is so much to write about and I have NO idea where to start. (I also have to beat my sister in posting this). The whole experience was enriching both spiritually, emotionally and personally.

With the different speeches covering the topic of love we were able to learn more about the meaning of love and how an why we show love to our neighbour. The workshops covered the topics of: Love is a commitment, Love in action, love is pure, engaging in the community, a workshop targeted specifically at females, and a summary speech which covered WHY we are to love our neighbour. I've learnt so much from all these speeches and would like to share the biggest take home message with you now: Because of the love and compassion which God our Father has given to us, by the saving work of His Son, we should be driven by love and compassion for who ever God causes to cross our path.

Luke 10: 25-37 tells  us the story of the good Samaritan. This parable was used as a reference point and the basis for two of the speeches we had. The Samaritan was moved with compassion for the man whom the thieves had beaten (he did not have any moral obligation to the man as the Priest and Levite did). The man on the side of the road was a man in need and the samaritan was moved with compassion. Jesus also was moved by compassion.

• Matt 14:14 - When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
• Matt 15:32 - Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.”
• Matt 20:34 - Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.
• Mark 6:34 - When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.

Because of the compassion which has been shown to us, we too should show love and compassion to others. Because of the love of Christ for us and in us we too should be showing love and compassion to our neighbour also.

On top of that the camp was an amazing opportunity to meet new people. There were people from Tasmaina, Queensland and some even from Canada and we were all able to interact and develop new relationships.