Love My Neighbor

Good Morning,

Mark 12:30-31 (NIV)
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself. 'There is no commandment greater than these."

Just for the sake of argument this morning, let's assume that most, if not all, who read these words don't have a problem with the loving God part of these verses. We all love the Lord. So....

"Love your neighbor..."

Here's where we sometime get into some problems with the true meaning of what Jesus tells us. How in the world are we to love our neighbor? (And, that's discounting the argument about who, exactly, IS our neighbor!) How are we to love people that are so different from us? How are we to love those who are so darn unlovable? How are we to love those with whom we disagree...in total or in part? How are we to love people who refuse to accept the fact of God or of Jesus?

These are very tough questions, I will agree. Um, I also don't have the answers to them. So, if that's what is expected, then we'll have to look to people more intelligent and wise than me, that's for sure!

I can tell you that it IS possible...100% possible...to love those with whom you disagree. Whether it's a political disagreement (yes, Republicans CAN love Democrats, and vice versa!) or even a religious disagreement (as we see between various denominations). Now, I can say that and mean that because I know that I love people with whom I do not agree on some things. I truly love many people who vote differently than I do. I completely love many other people who have a different "take" on some verses of Scripture. I love some others who seem to be unlovable. So, I know, without a doubt, that loving my neighbor is something that can be, and is, done.

What I don't understand and can't teach is the "why" or the "how" of the love I feel toward some who are different from me and are even diametrically opposed to some things I feel and believe. All I can say about that is, well, it has to be God. It certainly isn't me. Now, I know this because, you see, I don't love EVERYONE! I still have a problem loving some who I know I should love. So, if I had the answer as to how it's possible for me to love some of the people that I do love, then I'd be able to love ALL of my neighbors, as well. You see my dilemma here?

What I think is my responsibility in being obedient to what Jesus has told us in these verses of Scripture is the fact that I must continue to work on it...this love thing for my neighbors. I have to do all in my power to put aside my prejudices and wrong feelings about this person or that, and ask God to come and lift me up above myself and show me how I can love them. In my own power? No. I don't think it's possible for me to love all of my neighbors. With God's help? Yes. Because, with God everything and anything is possible.

Love, peace, and blessings,

David