The Great Command – Part Four

        Jesus directed us to love others as we love ourselves. This is referred to as the impossible imperative. Difficult, yes; impossible, yes.  

        Loving your neighbor as yourself is found eight times in the Bible. Not once. Not twice. Eight times. Loving your neighbor as yourself is so important to God that He not only repeats Himself, He makes it a command. And not just one in a list of many commands. Jesus coupled the command to love your neighbor as yourself with loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. 

        James calls it the royal law. It sounds beautiful, and it is when we obey it.

    No one knows of your love for God unless you freely give out samples.

        Love isn’t absorbent, but radiant. The love of Jesus coming to us must be reflected on others.

        Without love for others, we are like stained glass windows in the dark. 

        James picked up this theme in his writings and noted (2:8) “If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself,’ you do well…”

        Paul stressed the same truth in Galatians 5; 14: “For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”

        A quote from Rabbi Hillel the Elder is worthy of remembering: “Do not unto thy neighbor what is hateful unto thee.”  Always look for what is best for others.

        Many people in an effort to limit who they have to love engage in mental gymnastics regarding who their neighbor is. In the Gospel of Mark the issue raised is: “To whom are you willing to be a neighbor?” In the Mark passage Jesus told them the story of the Good Samaritan to illustrate His point. He concluded that the one who was the neighbor was the one who acted to help.

        The trait of love runs through true Christian character like water through a river bed, like sound through an amplifier.

        This text becomes revolutionary when we realize that included as “neighbors” are members of our own families. Husbands and wives are to love each other. Siblings are to love one another. Parents and children are to love one another.

        When we do, we will accept and appreciate each the role of the other. We will be more giving and forgiving.  Love seeks no way to end its relationship. It searches for ways to maintain a very good relationship.

        When love gets the upper hand, it is never strong-handed. Christ had us right where we deserved to be, and then He went to the cross for us to save us from a well-deserved fate.

        How do you treat a person when you are right and they are wrong? Do you emulate Jesus and forgive?

        Love one another for Christ’s sake. Remember He said, “…in as much as you did it unto the least of one of these My brethren,  you did it unto Me”  (Matt. 25: 40). 

        He also commented, “And whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me” (Matt. 18: 5).

        Love others in compliance with Jesus’ command and conduct. He didn’t say it would be easy, just right.