Who Is Your Neighbor?

November 23

Who is your neighbor? Is it the guy next door who waves to you as he mows his lawn? Is it the folks at church with whom you share faith and fellowship? Or is it the people at work with whom you rub elbows every day? It’s important to know just who he is because you are to love him.

In James 2:8 the Lord’s brother quotes the scriptural admonition, “’Love your neighbor as yourself’ and (thereby) you are doing right.” It is considered ‘right’ to love your neighbor. In God’s estimation, it is crucial to love your neighbor, so, who is he?

A scrupulous study of the subject would reveal the fact that in the eyes of God, everyone is your neighbor! Yes, everyone—including your enemies! In Matthew 5:44, 45, Jesus Himself said, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.” When you do, you will be following the example of the Lord.

Jesus, God’s only Son, left His throne in glory, came to earth as a man, bore your sin, and was humiliated by those who made themselves His enemy. Yet He loved them. He died for the sins of the haters of the gospel who revile and curse Him as much as for those who simply err in their ways. In doing so, He shows us how we, too, must love even our enemies—and be true neighbors.