Topic: Love your Neighbour like yourself
Bible Reading: Judges 18-19; Luke 10:25-42.
Memory Verse: “And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.” Luke 10:27 (KJV)
The Parable of a Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-36) that Jesus used to illustrate who is a neighbour is quite apt as it explains in detail who he is. From that passage the lawyer who asked the question in Luke 10:29 also answered it correctly in Luke 10:37. By that verse, your neighbour is anyone you are in a position to help or show mercy.
Thus, when your subordinate in the office acts erroneously in a manner that runs contrary to the best interest of the organization, he is your neighbour and requires your mercy. Similarly when your partner or friend disappoints you in the way he or she acts and that leads to one major challenge or the other, he is your neighbour and you need to recognise that it could have been you and so you need to show him love!
Similarly when your spouse fails to do what is expected of him or her or falls short of your expectations, rather than quarreling, you need to show him or her love as your neighbour.
Human beings generally respond more positively to love than quarrels or punishments. This is what the commandment of God expects to bring out of us in our daily affairs. This does not replace sanctions for various offences but even such sanctions can be done more in love than out of hatred and will bring the best out of our friends, families, colleagues and neighbours generally. No wonder Jesus says in Luke 6:35 (KJV), “But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.“
This is the world that Jesus expects his children to live in so that hatred and even the devil will have less followers because love always breed joy and joy is a signal of God’s presence. Thus Psalm 16:11 (KJV) says, “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” This further explains to us why the Ten Commandments is summarized in love in Luke 10:27 (KJV), “And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.”
Action Point: Have you been showing love to your neighbour as Jesus demands? Please make amendments from today.