Loving Your Neighbor

You know, loving your neighbor sounds simple—until you realize how many different kinds of “neighbors” we have. The kind who wave and say hi, and the kind who test your patience before 8 a.m. But Jesus didn’t give us any exceptions. In Mark 12:31, He said, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

That means loving people even when they’re hard to love, showing grace, choosing kindness, and being patient in moments when it’d be easier not to be. It’s the kind of love that reflects Jesus—not just in words, but in the way we live every day.

So today, we’re talking about what that really looks like in our world—how to love well in traffic, in our homes, at work, and yes, even on social media.

When we think about this concept of loving others, we need to make sure we are paying attention to what the Bible teaches and how Jesus lived His life.

Oftentimes we can find it hard to love as God loved, and that is because we don’t see and understand as He does. But that is why we should always be willing to ask Him for His wisdom and perspective when it comes to others.

God knows the hearts of people, and we mainly look at the outside. So, as you learn and grow in your walk with God, ask Him to help you see others as He does and allow Him to work through you to show His love to others.

We can become callous and routine-based people.

It is good to set boundaries, and it is good to know our limits, but I think from time to time we need to evaluate where we are and where God wants us to be.

If we don’t evaluate, then we could possibly miss something so great that God has for us.

We can just get so caught up in our lives that we cannot even think about anything else or anyone else. But we can also make changes and ask God to help us open up a bit and get involved—and sometimes learning to be open could be as simple as going to a charity or non-profit and offering a hand. That will bless you and anyone else involved as well. It can also open you to seeing things from a new perspective.

Let God use you and work through you so that you can shine the light of His love to others.

Sharing something is the way a child shows love to someone. They share their cookies, they share their toys, and they may even be willing to share their friends with others.

We need to be like children sometimes and be willing to share what we have as well. They are so innocent and can see things in black and white. Once we start to live and understand, we can become guarded, and that can keep us from sharing things like stories, a seat at a table, or just love.

When you ask someone how they are doing, mean it and listen. When you offer to help, go all in. When you take the time to do anything with or for someone, we are showing love.

God made us to love our neighbor, and in whatever way He is directing you to do that, then you should do just that.

Mark 12:31 (NLT) – “The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”

Let’s be honest—loving our neighbor can stretch us sometimes. But that’s exactly what love does—it stretches our comfort zones.

Maybe today your “neighbor” is someone who needs a smile, a listening ear, or just a little patience. Loving your neighbor doesn’t always mean big gestures; sometimes it’s just slowing down long enough to notice people.

Every act of kindness, every word of encouragement—it all adds up. It’s how the light of Jesus shines through us into a world that desperately needs to see it.

I’m an ambivert—introvert/extravert—and something like showing love to someone can feel really easy and awkward at the same time. I try, but I question if I’m really being helpful or even encouraging.

Most of the time, I show “loving my neighbor” by doing acts of service, which is funny since I question if I’m really being helpful.

But as I do these things, I need to remember that maybe what I’m doing in the moment is not very impactful, but it could be down the road. Not all things we do will have an immediate impact, and we need to keep that in mind and stay humble and willing to do things because we felt led by the Lord.

When loving our neighbor, one of the main stories from the Bible that we gravitate toward is the Good Samaritan. We know that this Samaritan put aside who he was to help someone in need. That is what we are to do as well.

We need to learn to hear better from the Lord when to help someone. Maybe it could be paying for someone’s medical bill, or a child’s overdrawn amount for a school lunch, or offering some warm clothing to someone in need. There are many different opportunities out there; we just need to be willing to hear from the Lord and walk through the door when it is open to us.

Again, our willingness really does change the way we walk out God’s love with others.

Here’s a thought—what if loving our neighbor isn’t just about them, but also about what it does in us when we choose compassion and patience?

Mark 12:31 (NLT) – “The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”

Let’s look around and see people the way God does—the ones who are overlooked, hurting, or just needing a reminder that they matter.

“Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Those six words can change neighborhoods, workplaces, and homes if we take them seriously.

Loving others isn’t always convenient, but it’s always powerful. It’s how the world recognizes Jesus in us—through everyday love, one small act at a time.

So maybe today, your challenge is simple: look for one way to show love on purpose. It could be a kind word, an extra dose of patience, or a prayer for someone who’s hard to love.

When we love our neighbors, we reflect the heart of God—because love is the loudest sermon we’ll ever preach.