The Lord commands us to love our neighbor. The Bible explains explains in more detail what this means.
Mark 12:28-31 English Standard Version
The
Great Commandment
28 And one of the scribes came up and heard them
disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him,
“Which commandment is the most important of all?” 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.”
Matthew 5:43-48 English Standard Version
Love
Your Enemies
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall
love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I
say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so
that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise
on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For
if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax
collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only
your brothers,[a] what more are you doing than others? Do not
even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You
therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Yes, we live in turbulent times and yet followers of Jesus are to act in such a way that reflects a new identity that imitates the character of Jesus, sometimes referred to as Christ-likeness.
So, what is Christ-likeness? Here is one definition I found:
Being
“Christ-like” in the Bible means actively
embodying the character, actions, and attitudes of Jesus, particularly through
love, humility, service, and sacrifice. Rooted in scriptural commands to imitate God, it represents
a transformation of heart—often through the Holy Spirit—to reflect divine
qualities like forgiveness and mercy rather than mere rule-following.
The important thing to gather from this definition is
that it requires an eternal perspective, a renewed mind, and a transformed
heart.
An eternal perspective is seeing the long term big picture. You see, God created everything in our universe, we messed it up, and then God has a plan to make it right again. Followers of Jesus are part of that eternal plan to be with God. Those who reject the Lord and refuse to follow Jesus, do not walk through the door of salvation. They receive their eternal destiny from the desire to be separated from God. Or they may think through their good works earned them a place of honor with God in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Jesus said this as plain as day:
“I am the
way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except
through me. (John 14:6)
Therefore Jesus is the only way to be reconciled back to God. And in fact He is the light in the darkness to show us the only way to be rescued from our sin is through Himself.
The Bible teaches that
In Jesus was life, and that life was the light of all mankind (John 1:4), and that Jesus is the true light that gives light to everyone (John 1:9)
A renewed mind means we no longer let the world define who we are or give us our perspective, morals and values. Only God gives us the truth, wisdom, discernment and principles we are to live by.
Paul in the book of Romans and Philippians explains:
Romans 12:1-2 New International Version
12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters,
in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy
and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do
not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the
renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what
God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Philippians 4:8-9 New International Version
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true,
whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely,
whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such
things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or
heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of
peace will be with you.
A Transformed Heart is needed:
Ephesians 4:22-24 New International Version
22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of
life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its
deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the
attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the
new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
And we are to share the hope we have been given even though the Gospel will be offensive to some:
1 Peter 3:15-16 New International Version
15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always
be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason
for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping
a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good
behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
Jesus warns us that we will be hated for our identity and belief in Him.
John 15:18-19 New International Version
The
World Hates the Disciples
18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it
hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it
would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have
chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.
So what does this mean when it comes to loving our neighbor or even our enemies?
Jesus said it best on the cross while suffering for sinners and while facing those who mocked and rejected him:
Luke 23:34 New International Version
34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for
they do not know what they are doing
In our world today. People are acting in ways that are in total opposition to and rejection of God and His people because they are steeped in embracing their own sinful desires by allowing themselves to succumb to the sinful temptations and hatred embedded in the fallen nature of this broken world. Paul states it this way in Romans 1; their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools. They do not have the Holy Spirit to convict them to see how horrible they are treating others. They are unable to love those who are different.
Some believers in Jesus struggle with the same kind of hatred and rejection of those who are different. Remember, those who are followers of Jesus are commanded to love their neighbor and pray for those who persecute them. This does not mean believers have to affirm other peoples sin. It does mean we should not hate others but feel compassion for them because they know not what they are doing. The lost are unable to see that Jesus can help them, and that He is the only way they can be rescued from the consequences of having a sin nature. Here are some good principles to understand about hatred.
1 John 2:9: "Whoever says he is in the
light and hates his brother is still in darkness".
1 John 4:20: "If anyone says, 'I love
God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother
whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen".
So, how can we love our neighbor in a broken and divided world?
This is what I do:
Pray and ask for God's help. Let the Holy Spirit filter my thoughts and recalibrate my emotions.
Seek wisdom from the Word of God.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 New International Version
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful
for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so
that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good
work.
Seek wise and Godly counsel.
And finally, Follow the Bibles instructions for Christian living
Ephesians 4:17-32 New International Version
Instructions
for Christian Living
17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord,
that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their
thinking. 18 They are darkened in their
understanding and separated from the life of God because of the
ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having
lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to
sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full
of greed.
20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when
you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that
is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to
your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being
corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made
new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put
on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and
holiness.
25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and
speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In
your anger do not sin”[a]: Do not let the sun go down while you are
still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a
foothold. 28 Anyone who has been stealing must
steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own
hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your
mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to
their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And
do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for
the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all
bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of
malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one
another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Just sayin
.
