Never Stop: Loving Your Neighbor

"And the second is like it."

With those words, Jesus continues His answer.  Having been asked to identify "the greatest commandment in the Law," the Lord began by calling all people to love God.  (Read last week's blog to look into that call further.)  Yet, Jesus continued.  Even a call to love God did not alone fully answer the question.  Jesus knew there was more; not more important, yet nevertheless, more.

"And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’"
Matthew 22:39 (NIV)

As we all are more fully aware, thanks to COVID, life is not designed to be lived in isolation.  Even the card-carrying members of the homebodies society (There's got to be one of those - right?) cannot do life completely alone.  It truly is not good for man (or woman) to be alone.  God made us for community.  

But not just community.  God wants us to live in healthy community.  Gathering is not enough.

1 How good and pleasant it is
    when God’s people live together in unity!
2 It is like precious oil poured on the head,
    running down on the beard,
running down on Aaron’s beard,
    down on the collar of his robe.
3 It is as if the dew of Hermon
    were falling on Mount Zion.
For there the LORD bestows his blessing,
    even life forevermore.
Psalm 133 (NIV)

With a few exceptions I have a beard only when my wife is out of town.  So, I don't relate well to Aaron.  However, I understand the joy of dew.  I do not enjoy Mountain Dew, but I enjoy seeing dew on the mountains.  The drops reflect the light and freshen the plants.  Things look bright and new and hopeful.  God tells us that unity is like that.  

By nature, I am a lover of peace and harmony.  I strongly dislike seeing (even more so - participating) in conflict.  I know, however, that some conflict is necessary.  Unity does not require total agreement on all things.  It does, though, require agreement on at least one understanding:

Each person is more important than the issue.

In times of division on subject, we need not slip into division of relationship.  Well-treated relationships weather storms of life.  Today, go live the words after "and the second is like it."

Go love people!

#ordinarylives

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