Higher Thoughts on Loving Others

Higher Thoughts on
Loving Others

The greatest command Jesus gives Christians is that we are to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. And the Lord Jesus gives us a second great command, like the first, a call to love.

Love Our Neighbor

HIGHER THOUGHTS: Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, Which is the first commandment of all? Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is: 'Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one. And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these. (Mark 12:28-31)

These two commandments are closely related. Let's personalize it to better understand. The first command calls us to love God with all that we are. The second to love our neighbor as ourselves. Both commands are about love, both about how much we are to love.

Who is My Neighbor?

In discussing which is the greatest commandment, Luke's account gives us further insight into this amazing conversation. The scribe wanted to justify himself so he asked Jesus, And who is my neighbor? In a time and culture where Jews and Samaritans could not stand one another, let's look at Jesus' powerful and practical answer...

HIGHER THOUGHTS: Then Jesus answered and said: A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, 'Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.' So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves? And he said, He who showed mercy on him. Then Jesus said to him, Go and do likewise. (Luke 10:30-37)

In this powerful answer, Jesus teaches the scribe, and us, not only who is our neighbor but also what loving our neighbor looks like!

He saw him - the Samaritan saw the man in need. He had things to do, places to be, but Jesus tells us the Samaritan, saw him. How are we at seeing others around us as we go through this busy world?
He had compassion - the Samaritan saw him and had compassion for the injured man. Compassion for another person is a powerful thing! If we see someone in need what do we feel inside?
He went to him - the Samaritan could have passed by, just as others had, but he didn't pass by, he went to him to help him. Opportunity calls us to make a choice, we choose to either pass by or go to people.
He met needs - the good Samaritan treated the injured man's wounds, bandaged them, and used his own transportation to get the man off the roadside and to a safety. Helping often doesn't stop at meeting one need, but as many as it takes. Doing whatever it takes, that's what we would want for ourselves and that's what we are to do for someone. Love brings compassion, compassion leads to action, action leads to meeting needs.
He took care of him - having gotten the hurt man to a safe place, the Samaritan cared for the injured man, tending to him and following up by paying someone to continue to care for the man.
He provided full care - like many of us, the good Samaritan had somewhere to be, but before going on his way he made sure the injured man would receive the continued care needed - paying out of his own pocket to do so.

Who is my neighbor? Whoever God brings into my life and gives me opportunity to be kind to, to help, and show them God's love - often by meeting their needs.

God is in control and a divine appointment is not an accident. If we come upon someone in need, or they come by us, Christians are to have an awareness and discernment to see how God is working and wants to work through us! Then with compassion we go to that person, care for them, and do what we can to meet needs.

The good Samaritan showed compassion, care... and love. Jesus calls us to, Go and do likewise.

Regarding Loving Others, Jesus tells His followers there is someone else Christians are to love...

Love Our Enemies

HIGHER THOUGHTS: You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect. (Matthew 5:43-48)

As Christians, we must never forget that when we were enemies of God, God still loved us and gave His Son, Jesus, for us, For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. (Romans 5:10) God's word also tells us, And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight. (Colossians 1:21-22)

If we're honest, there can be something about loving our enemies that makes us 'uncomfortable.' But at the same time, we realize the point of the words of our Lord - if we only love those that love us, what is that? Even the lost love those that love them (ref. Luke 6:32-33). We know that as Christians, there is to be a difference in us, and that we are to be different than the lost, wicked world.

How can we love our enemies? Where do we begin?

We can remember the lost need Jesus, just as we were lost at one time.
We can pray for our enemies, praying that the lost will be saved is a loving thing to do!
We can be kind and patient, showing grace just as we are shown grace. We can treat them just as we would want to be treated - the Golden Rule!
We can share God's word and the Gospel of Jesus Christ with them, speaking the truth in love.

HIGHER THOUGHTS: Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.(Romans 12:17-21)

Jesus gives us another powerful and simple truth to help put loving others into perspective and into action, So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. Matthew 7:12 (NIV) The NASB puts it another way, In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you.