“If, however, you are [really] fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, “you shall love your neighbor as yourself [that is, if you have an unselfish concern for others and do things for their benefit]” you are doing well”. James 2:8 AMP
Yesterday, we learned about loving God. Today, we’ll talk about loving others and how to do it correctly. According to Jesus Christ, if we love God, we should also love others. Loving our neighbours (others) is so important that Jesus made it a commandment, second only to loving God.
It’s easy to love yourself, put yourself first, and be kind to yourself, but can you love someone else in the same way? Love is not self-centred (Philippians 2:4,1 Corinthians 13:5). Love is something that should be shared. It is not influenced by the actions or attitudes of others, or by their proximity to you. As believers, we must practice loving others.
Preaching the Gospel is one way to accomplish this. Jesus loves your neighbour so much that He died for them; you should love them so much that you share this good news with them. By doing so, you are demonstrating the love of God. We can also show love for others through prayer. Pray for your neighbour, the body of Christ, your country, keep praying. You can also show love by giving and helping those in need (1 Corinthians 9).
Also, love can be seen in your attitude, actions, and reactions to things. When a loved one hurts you or a stranger steps on your toes, remember that your first call to action is not hatred or striving, but love. This is referred to as “royal law” by James in the anchor scripture.
Finally…
“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 NLT
Listen, God loved you so much that He made provision for your salvation even before you needed it (Romans 5:8). This should teach you to love your neighbours. Decide ahead of time to love them; you have a great example in God. Imitate Him.
Bible Reading Plan: Genesis 18-19