Love Thy Neighbor

The Scripture focus at my church that I watch online and will soon attend in person this weekend was the Great Commandments, which Jesus gave for everyone to follow.  They were...

“You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments." | Matthew 22:37-40

That is often said and quoted in churches, so it is not a new thing to be said but saying them this weekend is, I believe, very important, as we head into election seasons around the world and thereafter Thanksgiving.

This touches on many different posts that I have said over the last several months, but I will bring them together in summary and apply them.  But, first, I want to make a new point on that reading.  Jesus said that the commandment about loving your neighbor is "like" the first commandment, so this is something that we should be doing with all of our heart, with all of our soul, and with all of our mind.

Jesus didn't come into the world and lead an army to victory, even if that was what the people were wanting.  He didn't come to prove someone right or to make someone wrong.  In fact, as I have noted, h literally took all of the blame in the world, so He could stand by the side of those hurting... he took THEIR blame, which also allowed Him to FREE them, because as I have noted people in pain are the ones that cause the most pain and giving them blame only gives them more to overcome.

What is our purpose in the world?  If we want to cause peace, people must be redeemed, and it is an open question whether people still want redemption, even as we all must have it to be fit to stand on our own.  Most of the world is geared to find fault, condemn, exclude, block, hate, etc.  Few will put their pride aside to actually LOVE, and Jesus is the one that stands at the head of that line saying do not be like the world.

So, as we go into the election, do vote your conscience and convictions and care, but do not do it because you are trying to make anyone feel bad and do not do it belittling those that are hurting and thus attacking on both sides.  Let's remember that this election is a period to show love, too.. not just afterwards when we eat turkey and sing Christmas hymns.