“For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Galatians5:14 NLT)

Who is my neighbor?  In the biblical context, your neighbor is anyone you encounter, regardless of their background, race, or religion.  

What does “love” mean in this context, it is a selfless, deliberate decision to seek the well-being of another person through action, regardless of how you feel about that person.   It is not an emotion or a feeling of affection, instead, it is a conscious choice to treat others with the same care, protection, and respect that you naturally or should have of yourself.

In this verse love is a verb.  It is defined by what you do for someone else—such as random acts of kindness, consideration for others, being polite, and caring, it is not based on whether you like them or not.  

This verse ends with “love your neighbor as yourself” these 5 words refers to yourself not because of vanity, self-obsession, or self-serving but the natural, instinct to protect, sustain, and care for your own well-being.  

As you learn to love yourself, you are able to love others.  You learn to grow in healthy self-love, it overflows into loving others, you learn to shift your focus from emotional self-absorption to focusing on God and what He has called you to be.  “A representative of God” in all that you do, what you say, and how you act.  For our actions always reveal our belief in God. So, what do your actions reveal—do you love your neighbor as yourself?  It is something to think about. God Bless.  Amen.

denise