Love Thy Neighbor

Loving your neighbor is a request and command given by Jesus MANY times before He left the earth. (John 15:12-13; Romans 12:10; Galatians 5:13 and Philippians 2:3) It is more than loving someone you like or who lives next door; it is unconditionally loving people who reject, disgust, and hurt you. It is about YOUR heart and how well you are “meditating on the Kingdom of God night and day.” (Joshua 1:8 – “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”) It is a command given so that you can stay RIGHT (righteous) with God and you can stay happy, peaceful, and joyful while fulfilling your purpose on earth.

Matthew 5:44 “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” In this way, you are always focused on God, not the behavior/actions of man!

There are plenty of reasons in this downward spiraling world to want to give in to your feelings and allow yourself to act and react like all the “bad” people (people with bad intentions using you for their own gain) who surround you. JESUS was surrounded by people He called “a den of vipers.” Matthew 23:33 In this scripture, He was speaking to the Sadducees and Pharisees…the LEADERS of the Jewish people and teachers in the synagogue. and those He called hypocrites…Matthew 23:13. There were allies who turned on Him and became His enemy, yet, even to the end, He teaches us to love those who hurt, reject, and harm us.

On the cross, Jesus reminded us to choose LOVE over hate and understanding over judgment. Luke 23:34 “Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing as the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.” As He hung on the cross, in agonizing pain and humiliation, being mocked and ostracized by those who supposedly loved Him, He compassionately prayed for their salvation. I doubt any of us could do that!

Stephen, the first martyr after Jesus left the earth, while being stoned to death, made a similar request. Acts 7:54-60 - “When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” At this, they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city , and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.” (Falling asleep means “died” in ancient terminology)

CLEARLY, Jesus exemplified to us and told us to LOVE OUR ENEMIES and leave the judging to Him! Why do you think Jesus commands us to love our enemies? Here is a summary found at Christians.com. It is about controlling what you can control: YOU! It is about following Jesus 100%, trusting He knows what is best for you. It is about FAITH and TRUST. It is about LOVE.

Love Your Enemies' Meaning:

Unconditional Love: Loving your enemies means showing love and kindness to those who oppose, mistreat, or harm you. It's a call to love without conditions, irrespective of how they treat you personally. This unconditional love does not equate to pacifism, as Christians are still expected to defend the innocent and speak the truth without hate.

Act of Will: It's not merely an emotional feeling but an act of the will. Treating your enemies with compassion, forgiveness, and empathy involves a deliberate choice.

Prayer: Besides loving your enemies, Jesus encourages his followers to pray for them. This means seeking God's blessings and well-being for those who may wish harm upon you. It's a way of acknowledging that God's grace extends to all, including those who oppose you.

Imitating God: Jesus teaches that loving one's enemies reflects the character of God. God's love is often described as unconditional and all-encompassing, extending even to those who have sinned against Him. Christians are called to imitate this divine love.

Overcoming Evil: Loving your enemies is a powerful way to overcome evil with good. By responding to hostility or hatred with love and forgiveness, Christians aim to break the cycle of revenge and promote reconciliation and peace.

Christian Witness: When Christians love their enemies, it can be a powerful testimony to their faith. It demonstrates the transformative power of Christ's teachings and the ability of His followers to respond to challenging situations with grace.

I fully understand the challenge we face following Jesus’s lead on this particular command. Despite my best efforts, I find myself wanting to mock others who seem ignorant and lash out at those who have assigned themselves as qualified to judge me. This is especially difficult with social media, where people who know nothing about you put out the bait of divisiveness, unfair judgment, and antagonism.

As Christians, it is our “job” to be the peacemakers. WE are EXPECTED to hold our tongues, love others unconditionally in an environment of hate, and control our behavior and actions so we can be an example TO THE world instead of conforming to it! There is a great reward in being the peacemakers and following Jesus. The Bible tells us WE will inherit the Kingdom of God! What an honor and blessing. I will end my sermon with:

Matthew 5:9-10 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Love, hugs and blessings, Lisa ><>

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