Love your neighbor as yourself.

What would happen to our planet if we would begin to take this seriously?

When asked Jesus said that this was the second most important commandment...ever....so you might say that it is kind of a big deal. In order to enter into this discussion we must first make a couple of definitions. I will say that in this format you cannot make an exhaustive definition of these things but I will try. First of all, lets define love. The Bible says that God is love and Jesus came to this earth to show us really what God was like so lets just say that Jesus is love. Look at the life of Jesus and you will see love living His life. Jesus (love) loved extravagantly, honestly, without reservation or expectation. He did not determine who was deserving of love or righteous to receive it, he poured it out mercifully on everyone he met. Ultimately he suffered and gave his own life showing us the ultimate that love can do.

Who is my neighbor. My neighbor is everyone on the planet. My wife, kids, the people next door, the people at my church, the people at my job, your boss, that jerk who cuts you off on the freeway, that guy that picked on you in high school, that person that cheated you out of money, that girl who broke your heart, your ex-wife or husband, the gay couple down the street, that child with AIDS, the starving family in Costa Rica, the Muslim, the Jew, the terrorist, the person you've never met. Everyone.

What.....what would the world look like if we took the first definition and combined it with the second?

What would happen in your marriage if you stopped trying to manipulate each other and love each other unconditionally, extravagantly, without holding back? What would happen at your job if everyone stopped looking out for themselves and worked together for the good of each other. What kind of people would your kids become if they felt the warmth and security of unconditional love and acceptance mixed with loving concern and correction? What would happen to war if there was no more hate? What would happen to our churches if we all lived this way? What would happen to poverty and disease?

God, help me play my part in restoring the bride of Christ to her intended glory. Help us to dress ourselves in love. Make it our only concern and may that transform us, our families, our churches, our cities, our nation and the world, for your Glory, because you are mercy, you are grace, you are compassion and YOU ARE LOVE!