Jesus didn't just suggest that we love our neighbor - He called it one of the greatest commandments. In Matthew 22:37-39, He said, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart......and love your neighbor as yourself." Mark 12:31 reads, "Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no greater commandment than these."
For me personally, this is the hardest commandment to live out. Loving people means choosing patience when I'm tired, compassion when I've been hurt, and forgiveness when I want to hold on to anger. This commandment asks me to love people when they are difficult. As a human, my natural reaction is not to show love to the aggressive driver on my bumper or the snarky stranger with an attitude. And, the call to love others becomes increasingly more difficult when we have been personally hurt or let down by someone we know. I'll be the first to admit that I definitely don't always get it right. In all honesty, I should probably say I seldom get it right, When I have been personally hurt, anger is my initial reaction and I tend to want to hold a grudge. As a mother, I find it extremely hard to love those who have purposely tried to hurt my children. In fact, I have pretty good self awareness of when I am not handling a situation correctly and still choose the unloving response knowing that Jesus very well wants me to let go and respond in love. Some days loving others feels natural...and other days it feels like the hardest thing Jesus ever asked me to do.
God knew we wouldn't get it right as humans which is why He sent His son to be an example for us. When I read about the way Jesus loved others, it inspires me. Jesus showed love to others - even the ones who hurt Him - by choosing kindness when most people would choose anger. He forgave Peter after being denied, He healed the soldier who came to arrest Him, and on the cross in unimaginable pain, He prayed, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." His love wasn't dependent on how people treated Him, His love is a reflection of who He is. In John 13:34-35, He said, "As I have loved you, so you must love one another." The example that Jesus set is humbling. It reminds me that love isn't just an emotion - it's choosing grace, offering kindness first, and showing up even when it is costly. Jesus showed love through humility by putting others first in everything He did. He didn't come to be served but to serve. He washed His disciples' feet - something only the lowest servant would do - to show that real love is willing to kneel down and care for others. Jesus showed that love grows strongest when we choose humility, not pride.
Jesus loves with a grace that didn't retaliate, a mercy that didn't give up, and a heart that stayed open even when wounded. That's the love He extends to us, and the love He teaches us to offer others. Loving my neighbors, although extremely difficult, is my greatest chance to reflect the love Jesus has so freely given to me. And lets be honest......sometimes we may find ourselves being the neighbor who is difficult to love, and we appreciate the love still shown toward us.