In Everything

“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”

— Matthew 7:12 NIV

Jesus gives us an across-the-board command: consider others in everything. It is so easy to get caught up counting the letters of the law and obsessing over prophetic passages. Similarly, it is tempting to follow whatever denominational or doctrinal background you come from and get deep in the weeds of whatever practices you are familiar with.

Whether you are fond of the liturgy, theological thought, prophetic gifts, or radical evangelism, it is easy to build our faith on the practices and works of our religion instead of on the simple gospel Jesus taught us.

He says, no matter what, do to others what you want them to do to you. He commands us in John 13:34 NIV, saying, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”

Jesus's command is so simple a kid can get it, but so abstract the wisest of us will never reach the end. There is something precious to be discovered in the fundamental pursuit of loving our neighbor. It has the power to shape us for God’s kingdom like no other act, the exception being loving the Lord with our everything.

The call to love our neighbor offers its greatest gift to our spiritual development as it confronts our lack of love. When we avoid loving our neighbor it is often because we do not know how to love our neighbor. It is much easier to rack up religious points in the areas we are comfortable with than to awkwardly put ourselves in the position to love someone we know very little about.

I am not talking only about those who are drastically different than us. What about our friends, family, fellow church members, small group members, co-workers, and ministry partners? We can coexist around one another, but to love each other, we have to make some radical commitments.

This is a command we cannot escape. Jesus says to love the other in everything we do. He is after both the fruit of love (a supernaturally healthy and whole community) and the refinement of love (confronting our apathy and softening our hearts). Following God's command to let every situation be marked by loving one another will be the open door to a lifetime of freedom and kingdom influence. I am asking God to take me deeper into this way today. Will you join me?

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