TLIC FAMILY. DAY 37. FEBRUARY 6: LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR.

THINK TOGETHER

Who is your neighbor? Can you name any of the people in your neighborhood?

READ TOGETHER

The Hebrew people used to be slaves in Egypt, but God rescued them by his mighty power. He brought them through the Red Sea, across the desert, and all the way to Mount Sinai. Here they will learn who God is and what it means to worship him. And here at Mount Sinai God will give the people one of life’s two most important rules. Here it is:

Leviticus 19:18. you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.

Hundreds of years later Jesus will repeat this law and call it super important.

Matthew 22:37-39. ³⁷[Jesus] said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God… ³⁸ This is the great and first commandment. ³⁹ And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 

But who is our neighbor? You see, in the Bible your neighbor isn’t just the people who live next door to you. Your neighbor is everyone. No matter who they are or what they are like. No matter if they are a boy or a girl, black, brown, or white, rich or poor, old or young. No matter how different they are from you. God wants us to love every other person, and be kind to every person, and help every person, without condition.

But let’s be honest, this important rule from God is very hard to obey isn’t it? None of us is very good at loving others are we? Thankfully Jesus came to earth and loved everyone perfectly for us. Jesus is the greatest neighbor ever. He not only showed us how to love our neighbors, but he also loved all the neighbors in all the neighborhoods when he died on the cross for everyone. Jesus obeyed God’s most important rule FOR US, so that even when we fail to love our neighbor we can still be loved by God.

Because of Jesus I know that God loves me, not just as a neighbor, but as his child.

With Jesus I can love my neighbors as myself.

DO SOMETHING TOGETHER

Plan a way that you can love your neighbor this week. Can you take them a meal, or cookies, or simply check up on them?

PRAY TOGETHER

Jesus, you are the one who loves me the best. Help me to be able to love everyone because I know that I am loved by you no matter what. Amen.