Loving your neighbor
Loving Your Neighbor
Mark 12:30-31 says, “The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ there is no commandment greater than these.” Hebrews 19:24 also says, “and let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works.”
The Command to Love
As Christians, we’re commanded to love our neighbors but it appears this is no longer the norm. So yes, I would like to ask, are you still loving your neighbor. Is this still important to us as members of the household of faith? The doctrine and practice of love is becoming very unpopular.
But the fact is that, love is so important to God that He had to include it in the commandments. Hence, loving others has to be deliberate. God made it a command because He knew we’d struggle with it. The doctrine of love is fast declining among believers. But this isn’t God’s will. Therefore we need to do more loving and forgiving. At this point, I would like us to be reminded of what we’re called to do.
This is what loviny your neighbor mean:
- First you need to receive God’s love. Before you can love someone else. You need to receive it for yourself.You can’t possibly give someone something you don’t have.
- Loving your neighbor means forgiving. Forgiveness is a big deal to God. We received it freely, likewise, while loving your neighhbor, you’ll have to pass the same forgiveness on the same forgiveness that you received.
- Loving your neighbor means speaking kindly to them. To love your neighbor means to use kind words to build them up. That’s, speaking words of encouragement to someone who’s passing through one thing or the other. It also includes, appreciating and complimenting them.
- Loving your neighbor means looking out for their well-being. Philippians 2:4 it says, “not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” 1 Corinthians 13 also says, “love protects.” Likewise, loving your neighbor means looking out for their well-being.
- Loving your neighbor means acting with compassion towards them. As Christians, we should always be moved with compassion. And not sit by, idly while someone is terribly in need of something we can offer. Loving is being moved to help, to the full extent of your ability.
- Loving your neighbor means serving them. Jesus served (See Mathew 20:28). Serving others from the heart is kindness in action. Nonetheless, when kindness is done out of obligation then it’s no longer love.
- Loving your neighbor means sharing in their joyful and sorrowful moments. In Romans 12:15, the scripture says, “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” Celebrating with others despite your own pain is a strong show of love and strength.
Finally, we need to do more giving and unconditional loving just as Christ loves us. When we fail to do this, we simply put the body of Christ in a bad light. In other words, if we don’t love people the way we should then it will be very difficult to win them over into God’s family.
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