Love Ya Neighbor: The Short Film

“Love your neighbor as yourself.” This is literally something that we’ve all heard at least one time or another from our parents, teachers, friends, pastors… the Bible…Jesus. Shoot, somebody has said it before. But as simple as this profound statement is; it’s often the hardest thing to do.

Can I be honest? I don’t always love myself or people. Sometimes people make me want to react in a mean way.

“But God they did XYZ to make me upset.” or “God but I’m not feeling them.” or “They don’t fit in with us.” Or maybe, “They are remind me of the person that hurt me.” But simply said Jesus said:

In Mark 12:30 – 31, Jesus, Himself said “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’^[f] 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’^[g] There is no commandment greater than these.”

Jesus, Mr. I Said What I Said…

Jesus told us to love Him and love our neighbor as we love ourselves.

Now in a generation where self hate is more prevalent and pervasive; I believe this topic of loving your neighbor is necessary.Now let me break this down as I hear Holy Spirit saying it.

If we Love God with our EVERYTHING; our soul, mind and strength…then we will be able to love ourselves and then love others. Because you understand your DNA as a lover.  Many times we cannot love others thoroughly because we do not have a grasp on WHO and WHOSE we are, how to or even why to love ourselves. And USUALLY this is as a result of not knowing God for who He is as Himself and in relation to us.

It’s pretty pivotal to know that God, The Great I Am…Creator of Everything is our Father and He is also Love. He created us and established our identity before the foundations of the earth. Many times we see ourselves as commodities…used for one thing and discarded of. Sounds harsh but that is the reality for many people. God never meant for it to be that way.

Many of us have come to a sense of identity via what we do and what has happened to us. But this is not the intrinsic value of being a child of the King who is loved beyond what we can imagine or think. He loves us deeply. The bible tells us nothing can separate us from the Love of God. Hence why He said He will never leave nor forsake us; EVEN WHEN WE SELL HIM OUT. But not us; we are totally discarding of people based off ONE little offense. We are Love’s child so it should be natural for us to be able to love relentlessly. But we don’t know love so our context is off. Ya feel me?

The Bible is a love letter.

We don’t spend time with Him. You ever realized that in proximity with anything you begin to take on commonalities with that thing and even learn about yourself?

Jesus is love. Jesus is God. (So there’s no confusion lol) It says what greater love is there than to give your life for a friend. (John 15:13) Jesus called us His friends and He died for us. And he never mentioned anything about loving with conditions.

“You must be like this in order you to love.” “You can’t hurt me if you want me to love you.”

Listen…Christ could’ve stopped this whole show and sent everybody to Hell. We did not and still do not deserve His love but GRACE. He loves us that much that He paid the price. Because at any given moment before He died for us; He could’ve said, “Alright guys, show’s over.” But He said not a mumbling word.

Why can’t we love like that? We can. It takes practice and doing and heeding to Holy Spirit. We have the capacity to love because we have love on the inside of us as followers of Christ. And if you are not a follower of Christ, eternal life through Christ is a free gift that you can accept. All you have to do is:

Romans 10:9-10  If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

This photo series and short film is honestly just a satirical work about how people…church people even will quote Jesus but they don’t know love. We are so quick to judge and be mean without even showing people the light of Christ who need it.

 

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This film is loosely based off of Edward Scissorhands. The New girl and her mom move to a new neighborhood and it doesn’t go well at first but in the end Jesus does what He does best.

None of this was scripted or planned. So shout out to all the crew for contributing to a great work. I really pray that you all laugh and honestly realize that God wants us to love. AND STOP BEING RELIGIOUS <3

Credits:

Director: Evan Allen – Naveszn Cinematographer/Photographer – Mykell Green – www.instagram/kelltoodope

Nail Tech and Creative Assistant: www.instagram.com/theproject.chick

Assistant to Director: www.instagram.com/calyamckenzie

Edgy: www.instagram.com/jigzstormyink

Edgy’s Mom: www.instagram.com/estherthornton (naveszn’s real mom)

Brenda: www.instagram.com/theecelyne

Linda: www.instagram.com/sweetiee_keddy

Connetha: www.instagram.com/_.bryonne._

Loraine: www.instagram.com/__lovedarling_

Jesus: www.instagram.com/rollingstonee

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