"Love your neighbor"
הושע - Yehoshua: "Yahweh is salvation" (Also translates to Yeshua/Jesus)
"Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I Am the Lord." Leviticus 19:18
In light of recent events in our nation and the prompting of the Holy Spirit, our hearts have been stirred about the message that is needed in our nation at this moment; to love your neighbor.
The core message Christ is to love one another as oneself. This message is the heart behind our latest merch, to remind ourselves and others of what it means to love as Christ Jesus loved us; “for there is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for ones friend.” John 15:13
What does it mean to love your neighbor?
“Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.”
Matthew 7:12
When God showed us His love on the cross, it wasn’t cheap; His love for us cost him something. Jesus laid down his life for us. He paid the cost for our friendship, though he could have rightfully bore a grudge against us.
“For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his son while we were still he enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son.”
Romans 5:10
The Church is called to demonstrate this love to the world by replicating the example of Christ in our own lives. Each of us are called to be ambassadors of the Kingdom of God, we are called to walk in his likeness.
“Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.”
Ephesians 5:1-2
However, we must not ignore the first part of the command to “...not bear grudge or hold offense...” We are not loving like Christ if we hold on to unforgiveness in our hearts. Therefore:
...if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person..."
Matthew 5:23-24
Lastly, who is our neighbor? And how do we love them? No one answers this question better than Jesus himself:
‘One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”
“What is written in the law?” Jesus replied. “How do you read it?”
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind”; and, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
“Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!”
The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
Jesus replied with a story: “A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road.
“By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side.
“Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’
“Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked.
The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.”
Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”’
Luke 10:25-37
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