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Jesus said there was one way to show everyone we are truly His disciples: by loving one another. Love is not a choice, an option, a recommendation, or a suggestion; it is a commandment. Jesus said, "A new commandment I give to you." If we do not love each other, we are disobedient.

(John 13:34–35 NKJV) A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

Though the law of Moses was very complicated, with about 613 commandments, every single one is fulfilled when you love your neighbor.

(Galatians 5:14 NKJV) For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

When one of the Pharisees asked Jesus what was the most important commandment in all of scripture, Jesus said it was love:

(Matthew 22:35–40 NKJV) Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" Jesus said to him, " 'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."

Jesus said that the two most important commandments in all of Scripture are:

1) Love God.

2) Love Others.

Love completely fulfills the requirements of the law, and all of the Apostles taught this. Love is a central theme in the Bible, and there is no way around it. Peter, James, and John taught it. The Apostle Paul wrote a whole chapter on love (1 Corinthians 13:1-13) as well as this:

(Romans 13:8–10 NKJV) Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not bear false witness," "You shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

So we are commanded to love our neighbor, but who is our neighbor? Fortunately for us, someone asked Jesus that exact question. After discussing "love your neighbor," the man asked Jesus, "Who is my neighbor?" (Luke 10:29–37). Let's read it:

(Luke 10:29–31 NKJV) But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" 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.

The man was beaten and left half dead. A priest came by and saw him lying on the side of the road, but he could not be sure if the man was alive or not, and if a priest touched a dead body, then they became ceremonially unclean. So he played it safe and passed by on the other side of the road. Continuing on:

(Luke 10:32 NKJV) Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side.

So, a Levite came by. They were very religious as well, the tribe of the priests. They would be expected to help a person in need, but he carefully passed by on the other side of the road. Being ceremonially clean was more important than human life. We see that a lot in organized religion, where "little" people have little value. What was most important to them was keeping their rules and taking care of themselves. We see that attitude repeatedly in the gospels, such as when Jesus would heal someone on the Sabbath. Jesus put people first, and they did not like Him doing that. Continuing on:

(Luke 10:33–35 NKJV) 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; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.'

Finally, a Samaritan came by and saw the injured man. Samaritans were hated by the Jews and were deemed outcasts. The good Samaritan saw the man, had compassion for him, and went to help him. He bandaged the injured man up, put him on his own mount, and then walked ahead of it. He took him to an inn and paid the innkeeper enough money for one to two months of room and board. The Samaritan simply saw a person in need, and he did all that he could for him. He went above and beyond. Jesus then asked them:

(Luke 10:36–37 NKJV) So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?" And he said, "He who showed mercy on him." Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."

That is love in action: go and do likewise. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you (Luke 6:31). If you find someone in serious need, try and help them as best you can. This does not mean catering to everyone's wishes, wants, and whims. Some people will gladly make you their slave and then live your life for you. Learning to say: "No" is one of the most valuable skills that you will learn in life. You are not a doormat. You are not "lesser" than anyone else, regardless of what they may think. We are all equal in the eyes of God.

Jesus did not bow to everyone's whim:

(Luke 12:13–15 NKJV) "Then one from the crowd said to Him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me." But He said to him, "Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?" And He said to them, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses."

John tells us in (1 John 4:7) that people who love know God. When you meet someone with that kind of unselfish love, the kind like the good Samaritan that only comes from God. John tells us that they are born again. Which also makes you wonder about the opposite…

John went on to say (1 John 4:20–21 NKJV) "If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also."

The world is full of lonely, unloved, desperate, and uncaring people who have no answers. God is waiting for His people to love one another. He is still seeking the outcasts, the lost, the unwanted, and the unloved today.

God Truly Loves Us. God is so beautiful, and He loves the lost in such a powerful, passionate way. Somehow, He always sees the good inside, and He never gives up on us.

In the past, I have gotten angry at people that we tried to help get on their feet because they would not live right. Instead, they chased after their drug addictions and sold everything that we had given them until they were back in the gutter again. Then, after getting alone with God and praying about them, when I finally connected to the heart of God, I would feel so dirty, so judgmental, and so ashamed of my attitude.

The Holy Spirit gently made it clear that it was me who needed prayer and forgiveness. My love had somehow turned into anger. Has God ever spanked you like that? It is a spanking that you remember. God loves the lost, and He is not mad at them.

(Matthew 18:12–13 NKJV), "What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?"

When I was young and attending Bible college, I played music on the weekends to help pay for it. Often, the gigs were in bars, nightclubs, and parties. I was so busy hoping that Jesus wouldn't return while I was in there that I was shocked one night when I realized He WAS there with me.

I watched the Holy Spirit descend into a bar more than once and touch people right there. Scriptures would come to me for them, and suddenly, during our break, I would find myself preaching inspired mini-sermons in the parking lot. I watched people begin shaking under conviction as I spoke, and I led some to the Lord.

Jesus ate and drank with sinners, and He still does. This is hard for the religious mind to comprehend. In fact, it shocked me. The first time I felt the Holy Spirit descend in a bar, I looked up to heaven and said, "What are You doing here?"

He was seeking the lost, and I happened to be around some who were unconsciously seeking Him. God loves the lost, and if you will not let your religion stop you, He will use you wherever you are to reach them.

God truly loves us, and He told us to love one another.

You can pray this with me if you like:

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You so much for loving me! Help me see others through Your eyes and show love to the unloved. Help me be a blessing to my neighbor. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!