COMMENTARY

Don Atkin

LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR

When Jesus commanded that we love our neighbor, I’m sure that at least two things were inherent within the command:

1. Our neighbor is anyone with whom we come in contact – in every place, and under every circumstance.

2. He will provide the love as we obey in faith.

What concerns me is all of the years that I drove by nearby neighbors on my way to loving and serving neighbors who were far away. We would often get on airplanes and fly half way around the world to love our neighbors.

Please do not overlook or neglect your immediate neighbors!

We are enjoying friendship and fellowship with several neighbors who are also believers and followers of the Way. We are also enjoying loving everyone with whom we come in contact within walking distance of our home. It is amazing how many divine appointments we have each week, and how many hearts are opened to us in response to unconditional, unrestrained, and unoffendable love!

We are carriers of the King!

We are carriers of God who is Love!

We are carriers of His Love to a love-starved people!

The (agape) love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit is love. Our Father’s primary way of communicating His pure, unconditional, and unoffendable love is through the human instrumentation of His sons and daughters.

Our natural, affectionate (storge) brotherly (phileo) love - even passionate (eros) love - is purified and empowered by the infusion of His (agape) love in us. Christ (the anointed manifestation of the Father) in us is the hope of glory for our dear neighbors!