Waist Deep 2018 - January 26


Leviticus 19: 18 “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.” (NIV)


One cannot love God and not love one’s fellow human being, for God does not accept such love.*


Did your parents ever answer your “why” question with “because I said so”? Sometimes God answers us the same way. We may offer excuses as to why we can’t love our neighbor, but God will not be drawn into our argument. “I am the Lord,” reminds us of his authority.

This verse (and Jesus’ quoting of it in Matthew 22: 39) is frequently used to promote the theory that in order to love others, we must first love ourselves. Nowhere in the Bible are we commanded to love ourselves; indeed, no one has to tell us to love ourselves. While we hold grudges against each other, we are usually ready to give ourselves the benefit of the doubt and make excuses for our behavior. We are quite capable of loving ourselves even when we know how unlovable we are. But, as Christians, we must learn to have that same intense love for others* that we have for ourselves.

Because he said so!


Only harbor a grudge when God does.*


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