Recently, during an interview for the Unabashed You podcast, host Rechelle Conde-Nau, asked me, “Why do you choose to have faith?” My answer was, basically, “I don’t have a choice. Faith is the only way to live above the earthly, corrupt systems of this world and maintain peace, the kind of peace that no one understands, in these uncertain times.”

Do you know what else isn’t a choice for you and me? Love. God commands us to love our neighbor. And He didn’t just leave it there. He commanded us to “love your neighbor as YOURSELF” (Mark 12:31).  This means that if you wouldn’t want anything disparaging to be said about you, don’t say anything disparaging about them. If you want the best for your children, you should also want the best for theirs. If you wouldn’t want your community falsely accused of wrongdoing, then you shouldn’t falsely accurse another community.  This is what it means to “Love your neighbor AS YOURSELF.” And it’s not a suggestion, people, it’s a command.

So, if you call yourself a “Christian,” this is what “Christians” do. It’s not always easy. It’s not always comfortable. It’s not always convenient. Now, you don’t have to like your neighbor, have them over for dinner, make them your best friend, or even agree with them on every topic. But the bible still says, “Love your neighbor.”  See, whether you love your neighbor is the true standard of whether the label “Christian” is being accurately applied to how you live.

How you choose to live, love, treat your neighbor, may not have immediate consequences but, one day, all of us will stand before God and be held accountable for how we lived our lives. Personally, I believe that, if we don’t get this “love thing” right soon, on the Day of Judgement we’re going to hear God say, “Well?.” Instead, I want to hear Him say, “Well done!” What about YOU?

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” –Mark 12:30-31 NIV

By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” –John 13:35 NIV

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. Galatians 5:6 NIV “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 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.’All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” –Matthew 22:36-30 NIV

Keep the faith, LifeSpeakers!

Love,
Wilma

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