3. THE BOOK OF LEVITICUS. Love Your Neighbour.

LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOUR!
This admonition from God has no other meaning than what it says:

“Love him as you love yourself.”

Leviticus 19:18

In Matt 5:43,44.

Jesus confirmed this command by saying .. We should love our enemies also. For this is how the Father treats them.

It’s love under the new Covenant, where the law gave you permission to hate your enemies. Only Jesus could change the law.

It is an entirely different attitude we should have toward them.

Love instead of Hate!

Blessing instead of Cursing!

Good deeds, instead of avoiding speaking to them.

(Rejection is cruel when used as punishment.)

God is not partial in His love toward the righteous and the unrighteous.

But!! He hates sin!

He loves the spiteful and the sweet person.

He loves everybody, all the time.

This is what Jesus meant when He said,

“I have not come to destroy the Law, but to fulfil the Law and the Prophets.”

The New Testament makes this plain in eight different places and gives weight to what is already a challenging rule.

Do we really understand the implications as we should?
Here are some ways you can handle neighbourly living ..

WE LOVE OUR NEIGHBOURS BY THE WAY WE SPEAK!

The Lord our God said,

“I WILL NOT TOLERATE PEOPLE WHO SLANDER THEIR NEIGHBOURS.”

“I WILL NOT ENDURE CONCEIT AND PRIDE.”

Psalm 101:5.

This is a fascinating verse, as it corrects our inner motive that speaks against someone to make ourselves look better. It is really pride and selfishness on our part.

We help our neighbours because they have a need, not according to their behaviour or status.

We quickly help ourselves when needed, despite our faults and failures.

So let’s not limit our help to others in the same way.

That is how we love ourselves!!

WE LOVE OUR NEIGHBOURS, EVEN WHEN IT IS INCONVENIENT!

When they hurt, you should offer friendship and help in any way possible.

WE LOVE OUR NEIGHBOURS FROM THE HEART!

Pray about what Jesus would do in your sticky situation.

Let’s not envy our neighbour’s prosperity, but be satisfied with what we own.

Please don’t go into debt to impress them! (Keeping up with the Joneses.)

Read Exodus 20:17.

This verse means getting rid of envy and being happy when they renovate their home or purchase a stunning new red Jag that purrs like a pussycat!!

It requires a heart that rejoices with them in their accumulated wealth.
Paul admonishes us to be content with what we have and who we are in Christ.

WE LOVE OUR NEIGHBOURS BY FORGIVING THEM!

Leviticus 19:18 reminds us.

“DO NOT SEEK REVENGE OR BEAR A GRUDGE AGAINST A FELLOW ISRAELITE,

BUT LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOUR AS YOURSELF.”

This isn’t easy. Only forgiveness can drive those adverse desires far from your mind.

When you do this, you present a Christlike attitude that softens their heart toward you and your Christian faith.

Keep handing over those negative thoughts that want to give them “a piece of your mind.”

You will be known as an attractive and noble person. You never know, you may be the person who leads them to Jesus Christ!

Allow me to urge you to gaze at our Lord Jesus, who fully loves us.

As his neighbours, we are freely, entirely, and wonderfully loved!

Jesus DIED for us when we didn’t deserve it,
at the most significant inconvenience to Himself, and He forgave us.

He put aside all concern for His image and reputation, and loved us from His Heart.

He died in your place to rescue you from all condemnation over how you failed others and yourself.

He rose from the dead in power, giving you who are joined to him, NEW LIFE, and the ability to love the difficult and unlovely people as He does.

WHO IS YOUR NEIGHBOUR?

Don’t think that it is only the neighbours who live next door.
This includes everyone that God puts into your life..
Husband, Wife, Family, Relatives, Friends and… Enemies!

The Orphan and the Widow, Strangers (as the good Samaritan cared for a stranger he had not yet met)

Church Pastors, Leaders and your Brothers and Sisters in Christ.

It is harder to love and forgive a Christian who has rejected you because you have such high expectations of them.

You must give that person to God and leave them with Him. I’ve learned recently that I must.

Stand still, say nothing, do nothing, leave that person with God and …Move on! God will deal with His enemies in His own way.

The Saved and the Sinner alike!

Finally, as the Scriptures teach,

“Love those who offend and mistreat you.”

Can we love God and not our neighbours?
No .. not really!
Can we “love” someone and not “like” them?

Well!

The emotions only involve liking someone,

“You feel favourable toward them.” ( Macquarie Dictionary.)

But God’s love also affects your will and emotions more passionately.

You choose with your will to love them unconditionally, forever! That is how God loves you.
So “love” and “like” are synonymous with each other.

This is my conclusion: You love a person but dislike their bad behaviour or sin. You let the Holy Spirit convict them. (This is not your job.)

Your “Will” decides to continue to love them as God loves, but you hate their adverse behaviour. Maybe you cannot trust them, but you can be neighbourly!

Please read,

1 John chapter 4:7-21. Read it twice!!
Lovelessness is expressed by a judgmental attitude, and that is sin. A critical spirit springs from this attitude. Unkind Words are spoken, and physical abuse can easily follow.

Feelings say … “I want to slap her down!”

But love endures all things. You “decide” to “be nice“ by exercising your will.

When things heat up, get alone with God, and gather from Him all the Grace He can give, to help you in your time of need.

Don’t be a hypocrite. Do not have higher standards and expectations of other people while doing the same things yourself.

God loves you as you are, so you should love each other.

You may need some time out from that relationship to find His Will for your life.

Relationships that destroy each other are not acceptable to God. If you are at this stage, seek Professional advice from a Godly Counsellor or move on.

Here is a prayer for you to pray in difficult times.

“Lord God,
Some people in my life are tough to love. It’s hard not to detest them when they try to pull down everything I hold dear.

Please forgive me for the hurt I’ve caused, and I choose to forgive them even though I don’t feel like it.

“You Lord can change my situation, so I surrender it to you, that I will, having done all, to stand through your Grace.”

“Please give me wisdom to make the right choices.
Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer.

I refuse to hold on to offence and will not spread gossip about them to justify myself, so I bless them in your Name.

LORD, I BATHE IN YOUR FOUNTAIN OF LOVE.”

In Jesus‘ Name.

Amen.

Comments: SMS Heather Dalzell 0417545863.

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