Daily Focus

     That beautiful, magnificent, intricate flesh and blood machine that we call our body God designed, perfected and built. Some may argue with that position. Let them. There is not a single earthly explanation that can explain how our bodies and souls could become what they are any other way. When you look in the mirror today, you are looking at a masterpiece of God’s. Make sure you never forget that. Be careful to treat it like the masterpiece it is. “Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” Genesis 1:26-27 NKJV 

Do not be like King Ahab and Jezebel. Ahab was so selfish allowed Naboth to be murdered so he could have his vineyard. Many of us would not go this far. We can be guilty of coveting something so much we grow to be green with envy. We can be guilty of creating an enemy out of a person because we want what they have. We can be guilty of seeking to ruin someone in some way to get what they have. Do not let King Ahab be your example of loving your brother. Let Christ be our example for loving your brother as yourself.  “And it came to pass after these things that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard which was in Jezreel, next to the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. So Ahab spoke to Naboth, saying, “Give me your vineyard, that I may have it for a vegetable garden, because it is near, next to my house; and for it I will give you a vineyard better than it. Or, if it seems good to you, I will give you its worth in money.” But Naboth said to Ahab, “The Lord forbid that I should giv...

     What are we to be for our neighbor? We are to their salt of the earth. We are to be their light in this dark world. We are to be the city on a hill that they are drawn to. We are to be the good works they see that causes them to praise God. Love your neighbor as yourself by being the salt and light that they need. ““You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”” Matthew 5:13-16 NKJV

We are not to create enemies. We are to try to work things out with one another. It is for their benefit and ours. We are to go to one another and work out sin between us. If that doesn’t work, we take it the next steps. In the end, the goal is for everyone to be right in God's eyes. I know that it may not be easy. The easy thing does not always mean it the best or most beneficial. Love your neighbor as yourself by working things out with them.  If the need arises, love your neighbor as yourself by administering church discipline.  True love is doing what is best for someone even if they don’t want it. Everyone's soul is on the line.   ““Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church...

Serve your neighbor when they are in need. Everyone is deserving of aid in their time of need. I know we would want someone to help us. Love your neighbor as yourself by serving them in their time of need. “Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.  Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.  Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side.  But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; a...

Seek to please your neighbor within the binds of righteousness. We are to seek the good of neighbor. We want all that we do for them to lead to their edification. Again, we must stay within the lines of righteousness. Love your neighbor as yourself by seeking to please them. “We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves.  Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification.  For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.”” Romans 15:1-3 NKJV

Speak the truth to your neighbor. I think we often try to soften the blow of the information we are tying to communicate. In the end we simply loose the message. Sometimes fear plays a role and we do not speak, or we speak half-truths to others. The best thing we can do for our neighbor is to speak the clear simple truth. Love your neighbor as yourself by speaking the truth with them. “Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another.” Ephesians 4:25 NKJV

Love your neighbor by taking him the gospel. What better way to show another your love for them? They may not want it. That is not on you. Your responsibility is to love them as you love yourself by taking them the truth. “And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.  He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” Mark 16:15-16 NKJV

We must make sure that we do not feel that a person or a thing is beneath consideration. We don’t need to feel as if a person is worthless. Nor should we feel like they are deserving scorn. We cannot disregard our neighbor that should be considered. We cannot have a deep intense disgust for our neighbor. We would mourn the day that we knew someone felt this way about us. We are to love them as we love ourselves. “He who despises his neighbor sins; but he who has mercy on the poor, happy is he.” Proverbs 14:21 NKJV

     The greatest way to show love to our neighbor is to bring them the good news. How dare we take that from them. We can either rob them of the truth by our silence on the subject or by sharing our version of the truth. Let us make sure we are not guilty of this. Love your neighbor as yourself. Share with them the same word you hold so dear.  ““Therefore behold, I am against the prophets,” says the Lord, “who steal My words every one from his neighbor.”” Jeremiah 23:30 NKJV

We live in a culture where we firmly believe if we want it, we should go get it. That everything is ours for the taking. God makes it clear that is not the case. There is a horrible thing that is being done repeatedly all around us. It is a crime against our neighbor. It destroys their life and of those they care about. It is adultery. We do not need defile our neighbors’ spouse.  No amount of “love” or “happiness” can justify such a crime. How does that show that you love your neighbor as yourself?  “If he begets a son who is a robber or a shedder of blood, who does any of these things and does none of those duties, but has eaten on the mountains or defiled his neighbor’s wife;” Ezekiel 18:11 NKJV “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, …” 1 Corinthians 6:9 NKJV