“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:29-31 NIV
After we acknowledge and live out the first of these, let’s explore the latter. What is it to “Love your neighbor, as yourself?”
I submit, while we strive to allow others to see Jesus in us daily, we should try to love others the way Jesus loves us. After all, isn’t it every Christian’s goal, to emulate Jesus? Is it enough to shake a hand in church? Is it enough to wave from a distance to a neighbor? Is it enough to only lend the gifts God has bestowed upon us, in situations of fellowship? One might think – not.
As much as our Lord and God requires intimacy from us, he desires that same relationship between us and our fellow man, under his wing and by his design. He created fellowship as a way of honoring him through our love of others.
Many times God takes us out of our comfort zone, to reinforce our faith and walk with him.
A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’” “All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said. When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy. Luke 18:18-23 NIV
The man was very quick to do all he was used to doing, all that came easy to him from youth, yet Jesus desired more.
Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.” Mark 12:41-44 NIV
The Lord wishes for us to dig deeper than what comforts ourselves when we do unto others. Who dug deeper than our Lord as he submitted to death on the cross? Let us apply this same principal when deciding how to fellowship with each other. Let’s treat every person God brings across our path as family. Let’s take advantage of the love God lays on and in our hearts, so that all we meet each day will know they are loved.
As we step outside our comfort zones today and commit to our neighbors as Jesus committed to us, God will honor us, and guard over our hearts.
Peace be with you.
Barnabas
Special thanks for this guest submission from Barnabas.