The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.
Mark 12:31

Jesus has already explained to the scribe that loving God is the most important commandment. But right after that is to love our neighbors. We are to love them not just by being kind to them, but by loving them as we love ourselves, treating them as we want to be treated. In other words, we are to make their needs equal to ours.

To really love others in our lives, we need to recognize that they are also children of God, loved by Him unconditionally, as he loves us.  When we approach our world seeing Jesus in each person we meet, our perspective is truly changed. We become an extension of God’s love. And giving each person the opportunity to feel the love of God can change the world.

Do you have difficulties loving others in this way? Maybe you think it goes against basic human nature. We try to control the behavior of others, and therein lies the danger. Because that’s not loving them. This week look at the people closest to you and how you try to control them.  Love them by seeing them as God does, without judgment.