Love Your Neighbor and The Stranger As Yourself
Some people think the Old Testament is full of vengeance and hatred toward enemies, while the New Testament teaches love for all. Actually, the whole Bible teaches that believers should love everyone, as they love themselves. (Leviticus 19:18, 34) Consider the application of these two verses.
God's people are not to retaliate in vengeance against other people. Vengeance belongs to the Lord, because only God knows the just way to punish others. (Romans 12:19) In fact, we are to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. We do not wish to be criticized, condemned, or ignored. We want to be accepted, appreciated, and loved. Therefore, that is how we are to love those around us. This is even true of strangers. That word means those who are not our race or culture, but they live among us. We are to love them the same way we love our neighbors. After all, isn't that how God loves us? God loves the "whole world," which means every person of every race, creed, color, and religion. Jesus died for all of them, and we are to love them with God's love.
I pray that we will all practice this love for everyone around us, so they can see God's love in what we say and do.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Leviticus 20-22.
God's people are not to retaliate in vengeance against other people. Vengeance belongs to the Lord, because only God knows the just way to punish others. (Romans 12:19) In fact, we are to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. We do not wish to be criticized, condemned, or ignored. We want to be accepted, appreciated, and loved. Therefore, that is how we are to love those around us. This is even true of strangers. That word means those who are not our race or culture, but they live among us. We are to love them the same way we love our neighbors. After all, isn't that how God loves us? God loves the "whole world," which means every person of every race, creed, color, and religion. Jesus died for all of them, and we are to love them with God's love.
I pray that we will all practice this love for everyone around us, so they can see God's love in what we say and do.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Leviticus 20-22.