'You Must Love Your Neighbor as Yourself" - WAYS TO SHOW LOVE FOR OUR NEIGHBOR -Conclusion

 Love your enemies.   Jehovah has always taught us to love our enemies.  In Jesus' time, some taught that people should hate their enemies.  But Jesus counseled:  "Continue to love your enemies and to pray for those who persecute you." (Matthew 5:43-45)  Paul gave similar counsel when he said:"If your enemy is hungry, feed him, if he is thirsty, give him something to drink." (Romans 12:20; Proverbs 25:21)  In ancient Israel, Jehovah gave his people laws instructing them to help their enemies  and even their enemies' animals. (Exodus 23:5) By applying that counsel, some people who once hated one another might have become good friends.  As Christians, showing love for their enemies may change the way they feel about us. Some of them may even become servants of Jehovah. 

"Pursue peace with all people." (Hebrews 12:14)  If we make peace with all people, of course we must peace with our brothers. Jesus said: "If, then, you are bringing your gift to the altar and there you remember tha tyour brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. and go away.  First make your peace with your brother, and then come back and offer your gift." (Matthew 5:23, 24) Whenever we have a problemwith  one of our brothers, we show love for him by trying to make peace as soon as we can.  When we quickly make peace, it will be very pleasing to Jehovah.  

Do no judge others. "Stop judging that you may not be judged."  Jesus taught us not to judge others for the mistakes that they make.  He also said:  "Why, then, do you look  in your brother's eye but do not notice the rafter in your own eye, and then you will see clearly how remove  the straw from your brother's eye." (Matthew 7:1-5)  The lesson is  that we should not criticize other people when they make  mistakes because we make many mistakes ourselves.

Next time: "You Must Love Your Neighbor as Yourself" - THE BEST WAY TO S HOW LOVE

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