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Posts Tagged ‘love your neighbor’

Vital Step to a Radiant Faith-Love Your Neighbor

February 17th, 2023 No comments

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is loving our neighbor as ourselves.

Jesus calls this the second greatest commandment in the law. We are introduced to this command in Leviticus 19:18.

“Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself.”

The LORD was making this command to the Israelites in the days of Moses, and Jesus affirms the relevance of this command to our lives as well.

Our neighbor might be the person who lives next to us, works next to us, or worships next to us. Wherever we are, there are usually people nearby that we can engage with the love of God. Where that love is real and pure, we have the opportunity to build relationships based on trust, good will and respect. This kind of love is willing to look beyond our own interests to also look out for the interests of others.

Loving our Neighbor as ourselves is a vital step to a radiant faith that makes a difference in our world.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Relationship Building Principle-Neighbors and Needy

September 2nd, 2015 No comments

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Relationship-Building Principle comes from Proverbs 14:21.

“He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who is kind to the needy.”

To despise our neighbor would violate the second greatest commandment in all of Scripture, which is to love our neighbor as ourselves. God calls His people to live with neighborly love-the kind that seeks God’s blessing on their lives and treats them with respect and consideration. Building relationships with our neighbors is a significant step to demonstrating the love of Jesus to them. Our neighbor might be considered the family that lives next to us, but they also might be whoever happens to be next to us at a given time.

A blessing is granted from the Lord for the person who is kind to the needy. We have opportunity to do this in various ways. Proverbs 22:9 talks about the generous man sharing his food with the poor. Proverbs 31:9 promotes defending the rights of the poor. Psalm 15:5 promotes lending to the poor without charging excessive interest. The general idea is to be openhanded and not tightfisted toward the poor.

Loving our neighbors and being kind to the needy are vital relationship-building principles to take to heart in the Year of Connection.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com