‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself. – Mark 12:31
How old were you when you learned to drive? Do you recall the anticipation of being able to take the car out onto the roadways by yourself? Or did you have trepidations over the “what if’s” of entering that new phase of life? You learned and were tested on the rules of the road. You made mistakes as you began your driving lessons—taking the corner too soon and jumping the curb, maybe even accidentally running a stop sign. But you ultimately prevailed and eventually took to the road with confidence in yourself, although perhaps not fully confident of other drivers. Still, obeying the law is your motivation for safe arrival at your destination.
In much the same way, Scripture has given you the “rules of the road” for those who follow Christ. Jesus said the two highest are to love God and to love your neighbor. The Holy Spirit is your “driving instructor“ in accomplishing both of these. He will place yield signs in front of you and warn you when you are coming too close to the guard rails. He will remind you of the need to love God through worship and bring to your mind Scriptures that direct you on how to love your neighbor. Such actions include forgiving and not holding a grudge or seeking revenge, being extravagant in your generosity, walking the extra mile, being kind, and expressing God’s love to them.
In loving your neighbor as yourself, theologian John Piper says, “If you are energetic in pursuing your own happiness, be energetic in pursuing the happiness of your neighbor. … Seek for your neighbor the same things you seek for yourself.” The more you love God, the more you are able to selflessly love your neighbor. As you remember His sacrifice for you, it is easier to even sacrifice of yourself for your neighbor. His love for you is your motivation for loving others. Love is intended to be practical, so find a practical way to reach out to a neighbor today. Look for ways to put Christ’s love into action every day. Not only are you called to this, it is what God commands.
Today’s Verse: Mark 12:31
The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: 1 John 4:7-12, 18-21
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.
18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 19 We love because he first loved us. 20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
