Love Thy Neighbor
Good morning Immanuel. Today we have the privilege of giving and receiving God’s love with glad hearts.
“You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.” (Lev. 19:18)
Loving our neighbor is a universal principle, but unfortunately, we don’t commonly experience its grace. This love doesn’t start with our neighbor or us. It begins with God’s love for us. The Bible says we love because God first loved us (1 John 4:19). So, as a reflection of God’s love, we get to initiate this love to those closest to us, our neighbors. Our neighbors include physical neighbors, of course, but also co-workers, fellow students, church attendees, and our family (our most immediate neighbors).
Loving others as ourselves means we treat others with the love, respect, kindness, humility, and generosity that reflects Jesus. And we do this even if they don’t reciprocate.
One insurance company’s slogan, “Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there,” implies a good neighbor is one who is there for you when you need them most. Loving our neighbor as ourselves goes a step further as we proactively seek ways we can do good to those around us.
Jesus became our neighbor when he left Heaven’s glory to live among us for 33 years. He took upon man’s nature, with all the essential properties and common weaknesses, yet, without sin. This neighbor performed the ultimate good act by willingly dying in the flesh to pay for our sins when we, by faith, believe in the death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus as our only Savior.
Not everyone has the interest or energy to love others like this. But Jesus does. He is the greatest neighbor who loves us more than his own life. And he continues to love us, even when we feel alone, overwhelmed, or ashamed. With this assurance, we can freely love others with the joyful Spirit of Christ.