Love Your Neighbor

Love Your Neighbor

The one issue that keeps cropping up around me, never stopping to gain my attention, is hearing about how people are being mistreated in some way, shape or form. The Bible is very clear on how followers of Jesus should treat others.

·        Love Your Neighbor (Mark 12:31)

·        Consider the interests of others (Philippians 2:3-4)

·        Live in harmony (Romans 12:16)

·        Do good to your enemies (Luke 6:35)

Believe it or not Christians violate these principles as often as anyone else. The major difference is that those same Christians (including me) who violate God’s commands are usually convicted about our wrongdoing and seek out those we hurt, looking to ask for and even give forgiveness when we ourselves have become the object of another person’s misdeed. The one thing I get from listening to others stories of mistreatment is how much pain they experience when they are hurt by another believer. As Ambassadors for Christ, we must abide by God’s commands and the spirit of the law. We are called to a ministry of reconciliation in order to point others to Christ. Yet if we don’t act in such a way that shows we have been transformed, we actually shun what God desires in each of us – to be a new creation in Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:17-21 NIV

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

If we fail to love one another there is the great potential to create disunity in our homes, our Churches and where we work. Here are some principles we must adhere to in order to help us stay unified as believers in the Body of Christ.

John 13:34-35 NIV

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.

Philippians 2:2 NIV

then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.

Ephesians 4:1-3 NIV

Unity in the Body of Christ

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

Here are the verses that speak to me directly on how we should treat others. I suggest we revisit them often as reminders of how we can live in harmony with one another.

Matthew 7:12 NIV

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

Romans 12:10 NIV

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.

Romans 15:1-2 NIV

We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.

Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.

Ephesians 4:31-32 NIV

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Colossians 3:12-14 NIV

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

1 Peter 3:8-12 NIV

Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. For, "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.  He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."

Peter 2:17 NIV

Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.

Luke 6:27 NIV
 "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,

Galatians 6:10 NIV
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Let us remember one thing; we have an enemy who wants to destroy our relationships, our families, our Church fellowships and discredit us as followers of Jesus. So let’s hold on firmly to God’s Word and not let the enemy get a foothold in our lives. Let us do everything we can to live in harmony with one another and treat everyone the way we would want to be treated. Let’s let Christ rule in our hearts and achieve peace with one another fulfilling the calling of our Lord to love our neighbor as much as we love ourselves. In this way the world will see a picture of the one true God who not only sent His Son to save us, but gave us His Holy Spirit to conform us to His image. Let us be thankful to God for His love, for His Grace, for His mercy, and in turn show others these wonderful attributes.

Colossians 3:15 NIV 
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Romans 13:9 NIV 
The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself."  

Just Sayin………………..Dave