Love thy _________ neighbor.

This may be a controversial picture but apparently Jesus can be a controversial topic sooooo....

What if we loved like this?

I often wish we would stop pointing fingers.

If Jesus pointed fingers (which He doesn't) but if He did, His finger would justly be pointing at EACH of us. 

It is silly then for us to attempt to judge or point our finger at others. 

"When two people are standing next to Mount Everest they don't argue over who is tallest."

For lack of better terms, Jesus is the Mount Everest of Holiness. 

We are mere humans condemning other mere humans. What good does it do?
Neither of us are the standard of measurement. 

Whenever I survey our world and see all of the brokenness... it does hurt. 

I hurt when I see people so lost and trapped in the pits of sin.
But you know what makes me really hurt on behalf of the lost?

When we, the supposed Ambassadors of Christ tighten their chains. 

Church, we are held to a higher standard. 

"And that servant who knew his master's will and didn't prepare himself or do it will be severely beaten. But the one who did not know and did things deserving of blows will be beaten lightly. Much will be required of everyone who has been given much. And even more will be expected of the one who has been entrusted with more.  

Luke 12:47-48

In a sermon I listened to recently JD Grear stated, "The Gospel's secret is that grace is the most powerful change-agent in the world."

The Gospel uses grace to change people. 
Do we? Or do we use condemnation, superiority, and disdain?

A quote I read recently: "[God] loves us the way we are if we never changed. But, that kind of love changes us!" Bobby Capps

The Gospel gives out grace and love abundantly. 

If we are allowing the Gospel to saturate every area of our lives... then why aren't we giving out grace and love abundantly, too?

Why aren't we loving people so much they want what we have?

Why aren't we loving people with no conditions?
When Jesus says to love your neighbor as yourself in Matthew 22:39 or Mark 12:31 I see no exceptions. It just says to love your neighbor.

Tim Keller writes in Gospel in Life, "The person who knows he has received mercy while an underserving enemy of God will have a heart of love for (and especially!) the most ungrateful and difficult persons." He continues, "When a Christian sees prostitutes, alcoholics, prisoners, drug addicts, unwed mothers, the homeless, the refugees, he knows that he is looking in a mirror." 

We are no better. 
We were once spiritually dead.

I genuinely believe our world would change if we as Christians began to truly love our neighbors. 

"Evangelism is just one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread."
We are all beggars in light of who Jesus is! 

"Teacher, which command in the law is the greatest?" He said to him, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and Prophets depend on these two commands."
Matthew 22:36-10

The first step in loving our neighbors is loving Jesus with all we have. 

Once we do that the love for our neighbors will overflow.

My mission: Love more. Give grace more. 

Gospel, Grace, Overflow.