February 10 | Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 22:39
“You must not avenge yourself and you must not hold a grudge over the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.”
(Leviticus 19:18)
“And a second commandment is like it, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
(Matthew 22:39)
In our culture and political climate, it’s easier to hate one another. We accent our differences instead of unifying in our similarities. It’s easy to hate people. But Jesus chose the harder way, to love your neighbor.
In His day, the religious leaders tried to trip Him up by asking Him about the greatest commandment. He said to love God was the first and greatest commandment. But He went the extra mile, adding that the second greatest commandment was to love your neighbor as yourself.
In one instance in the Gospels, Jesus proceeds to tell the parable of the Good Samaritan after a lawyer asked Him, “Who is my neighbor?” The Israelites limited “neighbor” to only be fellow countrymen. So Jesus told the parable about the hero of a foreign Samaritan as the good neighbor.
We must not be that way. Anyone you meet in need is a neighbor. If you can help someone, the gospel calls you to do it. Loving your neighbor doesn’t mean you say it. It means you back it up with actions. It’s time to stop hating and start loving.
Action Step: Find someone in need today you can help. Do whatever you can for them. Share your testimony of Christ as the reason for helping them. Most people will be shocked you even noticed or cared.
Jesus, make me a good neighbor today. Put someone in my path who needs help, and needs to know You. Give me the words to speak and the actions to do. I want to be guided by Your Holy Spirit.
