email : Webview : Duane Brooks - Every Day with Jesus

February 27, 2018

Leviticus 19:18

Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.

New International Version (NIV)

   What if we loved ourselves exactly as much as we love our neighbors? I know this reverses what the Lord said, but humor me. Imagine loving yourself the way you do the people you shop with and work with. Would that increase or decrease your love for yourself? In a conversation about race and rights, one prominent retired football coach was told on twitter, “You are your race first and Christian second.” Quickly he replied, “No I am Christian first above all else.” Are we? We sometimes conflate our national, racial and social pride with our Christianity. This is a mistake.

                When Jesus was asked for two great commandments out of the 613 in the Old Testament, he first highlighted the Shema in Deuteronomy 6:5-9, “Love the Lord your God with all. . .” Then out of all the other ones he chose this one: love your neighbor as you love yourself. In context, the people of God were not to take advantage of their neighbors. They were not to claim their rights at the expense of their neighbors.

                Most of us love ourselves a lot. We know our rights and protect them at all costs. But what if protecting my rights harms my neighbor? Whenever I hear Christians use language about our “rights,” I get the feeling that they are placing their civil rights over their spiritual responsibilities. Roman Citizen Paul wrote to the Philippians, “Our citizenship is in heaven.” Your American citizenship and your Christian responsibilities won’t conflict often, but if they ever do, choose Christ first. He is Lord of all! Jesus did not claim his rights on the cross or he would have come down. Why did he die? He so loved the world . . . Do we? When Jesus told us to love our neighbors as much as we love ourselves, was he serious? He was. How are we doing?

Pray with me:

Father, show us our neighbors today in the people who pass our way. Give us the grace to love them as much as we love ourselves. Show us your sacrifice again and again until it becomes more than just a means to our own salvation, but the very way we live our lives. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

This year we focus our Every Day with Jesus readings on Jesus’ story. With references to Tallowood's Read Through the Bible in 2018 daily reading plan, let's focus our undivided attention on Jesus and follow where he lead. He will not fail. Neither will we!
Joyfully,
Duane

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