1/13/21

Love thy neighbor by Gary Rose

 


Even the most casual observer will recognize that political correctness has mutated into political domination and then into hated and recrimination for those whose ideas differ from their own. Those of us who honestly consider these things will agree that they are true.


In a way, this metamorphosis is not surprising, for as our country continually distances itself from the teachings of the Scriptures, we do not practice the morality God’s Holy Word teaches. Eventually, this trend will result in the destruction of our nation; and that is truly sad!


The solution is simple- LOVE! If we love, we will heal this nation and restore the civility that has made our nation a truly great one.


THE BIBLE SAYS…



Romans 13 ( World English Bible )

7 Give therefore to everyone what you owe: taxes to whom taxes are due; customs to whom customs; respect to whom respect; honor to whom honor.

8 Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.

9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not give false testimony,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other commandments there are, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

10 Love doesn’t harm a neighbor. Love therefore is the fulfillment of the law.


Galatians 5 ( World English Bible )

14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”


Luke 10 ( World English Bible )

25 Behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

26 He said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?”

27 He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.”

28 He said to him, “You have answered correctly. Do this, and you will live.”

29 But he, desiring to justify himself, asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?”

30 Jesus answered, “A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who both stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead.

31 By chance a certain priest was going down that way. When he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

32 In the same way a Levite also, when he came to the place, and saw him, passed by on the other side.

33 But a certain Samaritan, as he traveled, came where he was. When he saw him, he was moved with compassion,

34 came to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. He set him on his own animal, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

35 On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, and gave them to the host, and said to him, ‘Take care of him. Whatever you spend beyond that, I will repay you when I return.’

36 Now which of these three do you think seemed to be a neighbor to him who fell among the robbers?”

37 He said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”



Love and mercy are intertwined. They proceed from a heart which is receptive to the word of God and willing to obey it. God’s thoughts and will for us is reflected in HIS covenant relationship with his people. This is true for both covenants, the old as well as the new.


The sign reminds us that God meant what he said and this is true. Remember, Jesus died to save everyone 1 Timothy 2:4 (for we are all his neighbors). Don’t just preach “love thy neighbor”, practice it as well. And this doesn’t mean just the neighbors you like – it means everyone. This may not be an easy thing to do, but whoever said being a Christian was easy?


Just do it- and don’t look back!