“Love Thy Neighbor!” Those words are sometimes seen on posters or banners. At times they have even been shouted out! And citing Leviticus 19:18, Jesus drew attention to the command’s significance. We are to love our neighbor. We have been called to love, but is what is called loving always the same? Understanding this command as secondary to another command aids in this love being properly exercised.
When Jesus was asked what the greatest or most important commandment was, we read. . .
“(29) Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. (30) And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ (31) The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”” (Mark 12:29-31 ESV)
To love God with our entire being — heart, soul, mind, and strength — is the foundation for all other interaction. We must begin with loving God and understanding what He has revealed that is pleasing and glorifying to Him! This is reflected in the sincere desire for the receiving of the glory or praise of God as being greater than receiving it from humanity. (note John 12:43; Galatians 1:10) As Peter and the other Apostles declared, “We must obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:29) That was a declaration of love for God and the truth! This being the foundation for what we love and how we love — properly loving God and His Will first and foremost — we will be compelled to love others in the most beneficial way which includes directing away from sin. That is exactly what Jesus did with the woman brought to Him who had been caught in the act of adultery; He neither condemned her nor condoned her sin, but rather lovingly encouraged her to move from it. (John 8:11) To have left her comfortable where she was would not have been loving.
The world’s idea of love is sometimes expressed in the terms of accepting whatever others choose to do and if that acceptance is not there it is because of hate. However, even those who urge such a response of broad acceptance still draw the line somewhere as to what they have determined is not acceptable. Therefore, what we need to do is first seek to know what God’s Will is and in a loving manner encourage others toward it.
As Paul noted the characteristics of the godly love with which we are to love, he stated. . .
“(6) it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.” (1 Corinthians 13:6 ESV)
Yes, that is a quality of true love! That is how we are to love! Therefore, may we love in the beneficial manner that meets people where they are and rather than leaving them there lovingly encourages forward movement in becoming who God created them to be; to share His Divine and Holy essence! (Genesis 1:27; 2 Peter 1:3-4)
Have a great day LOVING OTHERS GOD’S WAY!
Carl
