The Verse of the Day

-June 26, 2020-

Good morning, happy Friday,

-Love Your Neighbor As Yourself-

“You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.”

(Leviticus 19:18).

When Jesus was asked which is the great commandment, He answered to love the Lord with all one’s heart, soul, and mind and the second is to love one’s neighbor as oneself. John, the disciple whom Jesus loved challenged us: how can we love God whom we have not seen if we do not love others whom we have seen. Both of the two great commandments go together like a hand and glove.

As is so common in Scripture, we are first instructed what not to do, then what we are told what to do. Both are of vital importance; they represent both the do’s and the don’ts. The former keeps you out of trouble like detour sign telling you what road not to take and the latter which is like the additional signage giving an alternative way to go.

First, we are admonished not to take our own vengeance against those who harm us. It is in our sinful nature to seek vengeance and revenge. We call it “tit for tat.” Paul wrote in Romans 12:17-19, “Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as it depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord.”

God is righteous and just and does a much better job of dealing with those who hurt us. He takes the emotion out of it and does what is right to convict and chasten. We tend to lash out in the flesh without thinking and do much more harm than good. Two wrongs don’t make a right. If we don’t forgive, we bear grudges and they can cause irreparable harm and damage our relationships with others.

Instead of the natural reaction, the Lord gives us the spiritual reaction: to love one’s neighbor as yourself. This takes forgiveness to a whole other level. It is called the law of love. Love is treating others as we would want to be treated and even more importantly, how God treats us. He shows us mercy and grace, which we deserve neither.

May the Lord help us to love one another and forgive one another. In this way we can love others as we love ourselves and get long so much better. It is so needed in our society today where there is so much strife, animosity, division, and hatred. Only the love of Christ can prevail and bring peace, unity, and love. Let’s make the world a better place by living a different way and pointing people to Jesus.

Have a blessed day loving our neighbors as ourselves. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean