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Love Thy Neighbor

Posted on Thursday, January 31, 2019

Matthew 22: 34-40

“ But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law? And he said to him, you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second us like it: you shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

Here’s the truth…

I do not love my neighbors well. I base my love on how someone else loves me and that is not an excuse. If God was to base His love on my love for him, I would be in trouble.

Since I am on the thought, why would Jesus tell us to love Him first, then our neighbor? Why can’t it be God, us, then our neighbors?  I feel as though self-love is more important than my neighbor.. right? If I cannot love myself, how do you expect me to love my neighbor then?

It is not a problem to love yourself, but when I start to be too indulged with myself over someone else; that is when it becomes a problem.

Jesus knows for a fact that it is hard to do these things. I do not love God like I should, and I do not love my neighbors like myself. The truth is I cannot know love until I love God. God is love.

I cannot know what love is until I see it modeled and Jesus is the perfect model.

It is hard to love others, especially if they have hurt us. But there have been countless times I hurt God. Despite my inequities, His promises remain. He gives us true satisfaction, joy, contentment, and love that we need. God wants us to see the beauty in Him and our neighbors. 

So, the question to ask myself?

Do I really try to outdo others? Do I love my neighbors well? If I say or do this, will this impact their hearts?

I am going to a city that is a home to 3.5 million people and over 180 nations. Every single person there is my neighbor. I pray God allows me to see the beauty He sees in them. To understand their heart and how they can be used for His Kingdom. I pray He makes me a maximum servant to the people He loves dearly. I pray He uses Berlin and his people to transform me. I pray I love better.

Love God with all your heart and love your neighbors as yourself. These are commandments, not suggestions.

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