How Can We Love Our Neighbor As Ourselves If We Truly Don’t?

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Thank you so much for tuning in and Welcome everyone – Hope you’re well! I’m your host, Ben Lively, and you’re listening to “Shaken Awake” – Episode #39!

I just want to thank you for tuning in, wherever you are and whatever you’re doing right this very moment.

And, as always, I promise you another great show – But, more than anything, my HOPE for you today, and always, is that you have an actual encounter with the Lord - He’s is always right there beside you. If you find ANY value in these episodes, the greatest thank you of all is to pass the work to at least one person you know to help spread the word.

So, without further ado, let’s get ready to invite God in with us, right here, right now and allow Him to speak directly to your heart and minds.

So, today’s topic is: “How Can We Love Our Neighbor As Ourselves If We Truly Don’t?”

If you haven’t tuned into episode #1 of this podcast, which is my personal testimony of how God saved a terrible wreck like me, please do. If you have, you’ll remember that one of my snares the enemy had me in was a heart that was harder than a diamond, and blacker than onyx. I hated people – all people. The only ones I didn’t hate were those that were the closest to me, which were all of and in the world – not of any value to the kingdom. Of course, there was my family, but all the people I was introduced to or worked with, I could not stand. I was cold-hearted, hated people, hated kids and children, hated people for any and every no-good reason, and refused to open up to anyone or have any meaningful relationship or friendship whatsoever. Forget fellowship – what was that??? I didn’t even have Christ, let alone a love for the Father’s sons and daughters. Alcohol would bring out the worst in me, as well. I would look for fights, people who’d look at me wrong, I’d stare down and pray (to whom, I still don’t know) that a fight would ensue, and I would swear anything or everything would irk me to my core about someone. Am I introverted? Yes. That’s something completely unrelated and different to what and who I had become. Introverts get recharged by solitary time and being alone. Although, they don’t prefer to have the spotlight on them, it doesn’t mean they hate people…. I hated people. So bad, I prayed to God some nights to allow me not to have so much hate in my hearts toward people because I couldn’t control it. I could physically see people get very uncomfortable within seconds of being around me. They’d start off friendly and smiling, and I guess they could sense the cold and darkness inside of me and on the outside of me, and it made them feel uncomfortable, quick. And to me, that was perfect – just where I wanted them…. the less of me they desired being around, the less I had to converse or speak to them. I wanted nothing to do with them or anyone. Why? Satan, that’s why. No Christ in me or I in Him, that’s why. I didn’t care, because I didn’t know Him. I didn’t know that the second greatest commandment, still today and forever, is to love they neighbor as yourself, nor would I have even cared then…. Guys, I’m talking like just 2.5 years ago – not decades ago. My heart was as black a soot, I can tell you that. I wanted to do things to people just because of the way they looked, sounded, acted, or didn’t, for that matter. Nothing mattered.

I realize that more than likely, none of you who are listening are or where ever like how I was, and I wouldn’t expect you to be. I was, and I hope I’m right here, a rare exception and not the norm. Most people, again – I hope, are not like how I was. My point by being transparent as I am is to show that I am proof, that hate exists, and so does the glory and saving grace and mercy and miracles of the Almighty God, our Father. He saved a wretch like Saul of Tarsus and turned him into the Apostle Paul, and he saved an evil wretch like me and turned me into His follower and friend. He is mightier than we can even dream or imagine. This is just one story how He works in our lives and the lives of others we do not know exist.

So, what changed? How did God save me? How did God transform me? How did God perform a miracle and turn my heart from stone to flesh. How did God turn darkness into light?

Here’s how He did and continues to do so:

What does the Bible say about Loving Others

John 13:34

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.

1 John 4:11

Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

Philippians 2:3-4

Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

1 John 4:7-21

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. ...

Proverbs 10:12

Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.

1 Peter 4:8

Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.

Matthew 5:43-48

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

1 Corinthians 13:13

So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

John 15:12

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

John 3:16

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

John 13:34-35

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Romans 12:10

Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

1 Corinthians 16:14

Let all that you do be done in love.

John 15:13

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

James 2:14-17

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

Romans 13:8

Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.

1 John 4:18

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

Romans 5:8

But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

1 Corinthians 13:1

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Ephesians 4:32

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Matthew 22:37-39

And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

1 John 3:1

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

1 Thessalonians 4:9

Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another,

1 Peter 4:8-9

Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.

1 John 4:21

And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

Romans 8:28

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

1 Corinthians 13:3

If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

1 John 4:20

If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.

1 John 4:12

No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.

Luke 6:35

But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.

Galatians 5:6

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.

1 Corinthians 13:2

And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

Philippians 2:3

Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

1 John 3:23

And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.

Galatians 5:14

For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Galatians 2:20

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

1 John 2:10

Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling.

Romans 13:8-10

Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one 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 covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.

Galatians 5:13

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

1 John 3:15-16

Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; ...

So, my final questions to you is then this: How well do you love YOUR neighbors?

My final statement is this: If you don’t love your neighbor as much as you do yourself and your own life, today should be the day, you get on your knees and ask God to give you wisdom and breakthrough and a heart to love your neighbor as thyself. Repent for not doing so in accordance with Jesus’ commandment, and begin loving your neighbor today, as Christ loves you. This is a part of being a good and faithful servant.

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So, before we end today’s show, I just want to thank you all again for tuning in and I HOPE you were touched by today’s message and scripture. I’d like to ask you a favor only IF you received any value out of today’s show – would you tell at least one person you know – call them, text them, email them, talk to them – tell them to give this show a listen.

Check out the show at shaken-awake.com, email me at ben@shaken-awake.com or call or text me directly for any reason at (407)-493-3208 (repeat). If you have ideas for the show – LET ME KNOW! If you know of someone that has an incredible testimony of coming to the Lord, and you think they would be a great guest of this show, please connect with me – I’d love to hear more.

Next week!!!! Tune in Next Sunday – or WHENEVER YOU’RE ABLE, as we dive into another important topic of today, which is, “What Does Jesus Know About You?”

Next week’s episode is another powerful and DO-NOT-MISS episode – thanks for joining!

Until next week, take great care of yourself and each other, and God Bless You all.

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