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Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

Matthew 22:37-39 (NIV)

You are called to love your neighbor. Jesus said it was equal to the greatest commandment.

Who is your neighbor? What is your responsibility to your neighbor?

Listen

Treat people in the same way that you want them to treat you.

Luke 6:31

Think

Here are some mantras of living from some of the world’s wisest:

What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellowman. This is the entire Law; all the rest is commentary. (Hillel)

Do not do to others what you would not like yourself. Then there will be no resentment against you, either in the family or in the state. (Confucius)

Do not do to others what would anger you if others did it to you. (Socrates)

What you would avoid suffering yourself, seek not to impose on others. (Epictetus)

Do you see the similarity? These are all versions of the Golden Rule that say, “Do not do to others…”

Do you see how radical Jesus is? He says, “Do to others.” The brilliance of Jesus says that when we do consult our own interest and act toward our neighbor out of our own interest, we find ourselves delivered out of our own interest.

Jeremy Sims

Pray

Jesus, at every turn you take the world’s wisest advice and turn it on its head. I am sponge-soaked in culture thinking. Teach me to think like you think and to act like you act. Teach me to treat my neighbor the way that I want to be treated. Amen.

Go

Go and love.

Go and value the other image bearers of God around you.

Believe the best in your neighbor.