Love your neighbor as yourself.

Devotion based on Romans 13:9

Do you like your neighbors? Are they easy to live with, or is it easy to find something to complain about? Maybe one neighbor is just too loud. He plays his music louder than necessary when outside, and he always seems to use power tools early in the morning. Perhaps a different neighbor doesn’t keep their lawn very nice. The lot stands out from the rest because it is too unkempt. Frankly, most neighbors think the house is a bit of an eyesore. Maybe another neighbor is too nosey. They are always sticking their nose in everyone else’s business and making you feel like you have little privacy.

What about the people you meet throughout your day? There was the gas station clerk who was rude to you in the checkout line. There was the other driver who cut you off in traffic and just happened to have a political bumper sticker you don’t agree with. And then there was the co-worker who did less work than you but took more of the credit when the project was done.

It isn’t easy to be kind in situations like these. But kindness isn’t enough. God commands us to “love your neighbor as yourself.” That is not our natural reaction to our neighbors. We are more inclined to love ourselves first and do what makes us happy at the expense of others. We figure that if someone isn’t nice to us, we shouldn’t waste our time with them.

Thankfully, Jesus did not take that approach. He saw us in desperate need and decided to help. He didn’t look to his own needs first. He didn’t let our unkindness to him or others stop him from loving us. Even though he knew we would not have done the same for him, Jesus offered his life on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins. Because Jesus loved his neighbors as himself, we are saved. Our sins have been forgiven and heaven is ours. The next time you meet with a neighbor, remember the love of Jesus and share it with them.

Prayer: