Scripture of the day
Galatians 5:14 - For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself."
When you look back at the Old Testament there are 613 commandments (including the ten commandments that Moses brought down from Mount Sinai).
Those commandments were created to show God's people how to live. The problem with so many laws was that no one person could ever live up to these standards.
When I look at the ten commandments alone, I'm pretty sure I've broken every one of them either in thought or deed. Yes, I am a broken man.
Before Jesus, many tried to follow these laws, but failed and as a result a burnt sacrifice was made regularly to forgive their sins. But God's people kept sinning and desperately needed a saviour.
That saviour today is Jesus Christ. And He saves both Jews and Gentiles. God knew that man is incapable of keeping all of his laws and he needed to send a sacrifice to save the world.
For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:16-17)
That gift from God was the biggest gift mankind could ever receive. Jesus lived a sinless life yet was rejected by his own people (the Jews). This rejection led to his death on the cross.
However, he rose from the dead three days later. That is how we know Jesus is alive today.
But instead of following all of the commands in the past, He gave us one command that would sum up the whole law: Love your neighbor as yourself.
What does that exactly mean? We can simply look at ourselves and see how we want to treated. We want to be loved, respected, forgiven, allowed grace, spoken to in a kind manner, encouraged and the list goes on.
Now, who are our neighbors? Everyone. Yes, not just the person next door, but the person across the street, the next city or in a different country. Everyone.
But what kind of neighbors are meant in the scriptures? Again everyone. We are to love those who do good to us and our enemies. We are to love sinners and saints. We are to love everyone from every religion. Even those who are violently against Christ.
Jesus loves ALL, so as followers of Christ, we are to love ALL as well. Everyone.
Now just to be clear on a few points. We must love everyone but we don't have to love what they do. In fact we are told in Romans 12:9, Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.
Loving others doesn't mean we should believe what they believe or to do what they do. Respecting others doesn't mean we are to agree with their lifestyle either. No - we need to cling tight with all of our might to the truths found in the Word of God.
There are times when I encounter others who are against truth or against Jesus. My first reaction was that of Peter's in the Garden of Gethsemane when Jesus was being arrested. To pick up my sword and defend Jesus at any cost.
But Peter did not show love, but rather anger. At that moment, Peter did not love his enemies but rather lashed out in harm.
There will always be times when we meet others who offend us. I need to be vigilant of my thoughts and actions in those times. Sometimes the best thing to do is to take a moment to calm down and regroup before saying or doing something that is not from God.
One final note regarding protection. We should not look for fights, arguments or reasons to hate. We need to protect our hearts and our loved ones. That can often mean simply removing ourselves or loved ones from a situation and let the world do what the world is going to do.
We must choose our battles wisely, but when we do, may we do so in a loving manner.
Lord, help me to love everyone. Not just those who are lovable but also my enemies. May everyone encounter your love when I speak or act. Give me strength to engage others with love and the wisdom to know when to retreat when I need to protect my heart.
In Jesus name,
Amen.
