15 Feb 2026
February 15, 2026
Loving Your Neighbor As Yourself....You....Can't Hide From This One
Mark 12:29-31
Mark
Jesus replied, "The most important commandment is this: 'Listen, O Israel! The LORD our God is the one and only LORD. And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.
The second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' No other commandment is greater than these."
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Thoughts....
On the day of love....Valentine's Day....I reminded you of the first part of the above commandment, that the LORD our God is the one and only LORD and that you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength. And I provided a love song the two of you could share to help you understand the depth of his love for you and the depth he desires that you love him.
Today, I'd like you to read the rest of the what is said. Although I sectioned out verse 31, it is not separated in Scripture. Also, though Jesus says the commandment he is sharing is 'the most important commandment', and that the second is 'equally important', note that as he concludes his verbal expression, he says "no other commandment"....singular...."is greater than these"....plural.
Jesus gives credence to, honor to, and fellowship with God in quoting him accurately as he spoke the individual commandments. But then, because of the importance of them both, he clearly states they are "equal", and, he makes them ONE by saying "no other commandment". There is no 's' on the end of commandment.
So you can't say he said you must love the LORD....only. You can NOT leave off and ignore, or be combative against, choose to not act accordingly, not abide by the rest of what he said. You can't say, "I don't want to pay attention to the rest of the command God and Jesus gave." You can't start spouting off "those other people are fools". You can't say "But they did this....", or "They did that, so they can go eat worms for all I care", or say, "Kill them", or imply, or act, as if they are less than you....not equal to you.
Jesus used the word "equal". He clearly said the commandments are "equal". This is not a 'subliminal message', nor something you can choose to overlook.
Loving your neighbor as yourself may take the patience of a saint, as is said. It may take supreme strength to humble yourself. But you MUST acknowledge that you MUST love the Lord with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength, and, equal to that, you MUST love your neighbor as yourself.
Clearly, God knew if you could love him with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength, that you have all that in you, now practiced with him, to apply it to your neighbors. Hmmmm, HE 'got ya' on this one.
You only need look around you and around the world these days to see that there are a LOT of people who are not loving anyone....including their self.
I can hear you sputtering that you love your life just fine. But I am here to tell you....you do not love your self. You worship your self. You adore your self. You attempt to bring honor to and uphold your self as someone important, worthy, all knowing, perfect, beautiful, handsome, wealthy or not, etc.
I now hear you saying, "How dare you!" I dare because God and Jesus dared. They made things as clear as possible. Neither skipped a beat. They don't want you to just SAY you love the LORD your God. They want you to SHOW how much. By loving your neighbor as your self, you are proving to God that you have received his love and learned to love. Furthermore, you have chosen to not only receive his love, and he yours, but you have chosen to PROVE it to him by LOVING OTHERS....albeit a select few by your....cough....'standards'. And by loving others you ARE loving him. It's like a thanksgiving to him. No matter how I say it, it's the same intent. Kind of like, "Love me, love my kids."
You can say, "They don't believe as I do." How do you know that? Have you studied another person's religion, faith, church tenets? And why should it matter? "But, they don't look like me." And soooo....your point is? God' s AND Jesus' point is that is DOES NOT MATTER. You don't look like God or Jesus. Should they 'dis' you because of that? Noooo. Nor does it matter if they use different laundry detergent, eat different foods, walk differently, wear make up differently, cut their hair differently, dress differently, speak a different language, go to church or not, or any other thing that appears 'different' from you....DOES NOT MATTER....to GOD. It should not matter to you either. He's telling you in this commandment, those commandments, if you recall, being equal, that he only sees Him, you, and the neighbor, and he makes NO delineation between the two of you. You should not either.
God does not say you sinned and he or she didn't or visa versa. "EVERYONE HAS SINNED; WE ALL FALL SHORT of God's glorious standard." Romans 3:23. By the way, I am not yelling when I capitalize, I'm merely expressing, with emphasis, a point. Nor does God or Jesus choose to love you, or not, based on your actions. You can love someone and not like the choices they make. BUT by the choice you make, they will decide IF....big if....YOU are going to Heaven or Hell.
I have so often said, "YOUR end time is going to come before THE end time." Walk as if you have a choice....you do. Walk and make choices as if where you go matters....it should. You can choose Heaven or Hell. You can live eternally in Heaven, or you can be burned up in Hell. Clearly Satan doesn't care one way or another, you are just another person to use for his agenda, and one to eliminate, if you don't or haven't fit in his scheme of things. On the other hand, God and Jesus look forward to offering you a loving, healthy, caring life, embracing you, healing you, rejoicing with you for all eternity.
I find a lot of times that people don't like others because they have never taken the time to get to know them. Actually my Mother said that to me when I was young and I can assure you it is a valid statement. And for what it's worth, you don't have to know your neighbors before you reach out to say hi, or help them. You might find you have more in common than you realized. Maybe you find your neighbors are married like yourself, and you both have kids. You have to realize in that that they wanted to give and receive love like yourself, and have a family to share that love with, nurture them, and help them grow. You might also find that you both have to work to make a living and you both do that earnestly to provide for those you love. So what if they turn on the computer for church, or not, or get all fancied up to look better than the other person in the pew at a live service at a ground based church like your self. [Note that every time I separate the word yourself to your self, it is to draw emphasis on you....as you do generally....presumed of course....or you might love your neighbor as yourself. Just sayin'.]
Be aware that I am aware, AND God and Jesus are aware, that you may very well be a very loving, giving, caring person to God AND your neighbors, so, if so, realize I am talking to those who are not. For those that do abide by the 'equal commandment', Praise God (!) and receive their thanks from above. I am also grateful, as well as hopeful, that the world really will show itself to be round....some day.
It's folks, like yourselves, who love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength and love your neighbor as yourself that give God and Jesus a good name, a great testimony, honor him, and help to bring others into the family of believers, showing the great reasons why we love...."We love each other because HE first loved us." 1 John 4:19
So....for those who have NOT been loving to OTHERS, consider what I've shared as food for thought. I will, and God and Jesus will, be ever so grateful for the opportunity for the tide of hate to turn to love. And the world will be grateful when there is peace on earth. Romans 8:19 says, "For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are." Who are you....to them....and your neighbor(s)?
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Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me
Let there be peace on earth
The peace that was meant to be
With God as our father
Brothers all are we
Let me walk with my brother
In perfect harmony
Let peace begin with me
Let this be the moment now
With every step I take
Let this be my solemn vow
To take each moment
And live each moment
In peace eternally
Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me
Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me
Let there be peace on earth
The peace that was meant to be
With God as our father
Brothers are all we
Let me walk with my brother
In perfect harmony
Let peace begin with me
Let this be the moment now
With every step I take
Let this be my solemn vow
To take each moment
And live each moment
In peace eternally
Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me
Songwriters: Jill Jackson, Sy Miller.
This is a video. Be aware there will be commercials potentially that I have no control over. You can skip them. And there is a printer link, etc., that I cannot seem to eliminate and I have no idea where it will take you. Be careful. Also, there is a piano interlude after Vince Gill sings and then Jenny, his daughter sings. It's quite lovely. I hope you will enjoy this moment of peace....loving your brothers....and sisters....as neighbors....in the world, not just 'the church family' or those of your family in your home.
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Put a Little Love in Your Heart 1969
Song by Jackie DeShannon and backup vocalists
Think of your fellow man, lend him a helping hand
Put a little love in your heart
You see, it's getting late, oh, please don't hesitate
Put a little love in your heart
And the world will be a better place
And the world will be a better place for you and me
You just wait and see
Another day goes by, and still the children cry
Put a little love in your heart
If we want the world to know, we won't let hatred grow
Put a little love in your heart
And the world will be a better place
And the world will be a better place for you and me
You just wait and see, wait and see
Take a good look around and if you're lookin' down
Put a little love in your heart
I hope when you decide kindness will be your guide
Put a little love in your heart
And the world will be a better place
And the world will be a better place for you and me
You just wait and see
People now
Put a little love in your heart
Each and every day
Put a little love in your heart
There's no other other
Put a little love in your heart
We ought to
Put a little love in your heart
Come on and
Put a little love in your heart
Writer/s: Jackie DeShannon, Jimmy Holiday, Randy Myers
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
https://youtu.be/CZ8K1sRibCY This link is for sound only. No video.
Again, be aware there may be commercials potentially that I have no control over. You can skip them.
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Let Us Pray
Dear Heavenly Father God, Jesus, Holy Spirit....indeed....let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me. Forgive me of my sins towards all those around me....and you. Hold me tight, please, the road ahead may be long and winding. I will need you along this journey, I know you need me. So do others. Help me....and thank you....for giving me yet another chance to do right, be right, live right and love right for you, myself, not my self, and for others. May I love fully, in the ways you've loved me, given to me, helped me see your Light...of truth. Painful lesson, but grateful for it. I have not loved you with my whole heart, I have not loved my neighbors as myself. But I will. From the bottom of my heart....I praise you, and thank you, and love you. Amen.
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The long and winding road
That leads to your door
Will never disappear
I've seen that road before
It always leads me here
Lead me to your door
The wild and windy night
That the rain washed away
Has left a pool of tears
Crying for the day
Why leave me standing here?
Let me know the way
Many times I've been alone
And many times I've cried
Anyway, you'll never know
The many ways I've tried
And still they lead me back
To the long, winding road
You left me standing here
A long, long time ago
Don't leave me waiting here
Lead me to your door
But still they lead me back
To the long, winding road
You left me standing here
A long, long time ago
Don't keep me waiting here (don't keep me waiting)
Lead me to your door
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Songwriters: Paul Mccartney, John Lennon.
https://youtu.be/d5HBPs_hiPk This is the Official video.
This link is for a video, again there may be commercials potentially that I have no control over. You can skip them. And there is a printer link, etc., that I cannot seem to eliminate and I have no idea where it will take you. Be careful.
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Great IS Thy faithfulness!
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Now....PRAY....EARNESTLY....to get to the Kingdom of Heaven with the Lord!
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Majesty....worship His Majesty !
NOT fallible mankind !
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More love....
Benediction....Blessing
Let us hear from Paul as he prays:
When I think of the wisdom and scope of God's plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit. And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love. And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
Now glory be to God! By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope. May he be given glory in the church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever through endless ages. Amen. Ephesians 3:14-21 NLT
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Scroll down to read Jesus' Prayer of Thanksgiving...'The Unforced Rhythms of Grace'.
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Definition of a Christian: Anyone who believes in God, Jesus and Holy Spirit, and accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior. Regardless of church name or religious affiliation.
'All who have been united with Christ in baptism have been made like him. There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female. For you are all Christians - you are ONE in Christ Jesus.' Galatians 3: 27
It is not how we worship, but that we worship....the Trinity!
Teach tolerance....reach in acceptance....worship as one!
Respect....Embrace....Encourage!
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Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this:
I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
Matthew 28:18-20 NLT
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Our Continual Cause
It is time to reach into the community and the world around you to see wherein lies the greatest need. As you choose to focus on these areas, do so with a servant's heart. Whether the need is for children, adults, animals, the earth, or any cause in between that will help those in need, ask God how you can best serve his needs, what path you must take, and how long you should persevere. Sometimes we are to be in the lives of others merely as stepping stones. Sometimes we are to touch those lives forever. Whatever journey you are called to take, whatever team you will be a member, know this: God is with you always...even til the end of time. He loves you, is grateful for you, and will help you along life's way, especially if you are helping others along theirs, persevering with a servant's heart.
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One last thing....
Jesus' Prayer of Thanksgiving
'The Unforced Rhythms of Grace'
"Abruptly Jesus broke into prayer: "Thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth. You've concealed your ways from sophisticates and know-it-alls, but spelled them out clearly to ordinary people. Yes, Father, that's the way you like to work."
Jesus resumed talking to the people, but now tenderly. "The Father has given me all these things to do and say. This is a unique Father - Son operation, coming out of Father and Son intimacies and knowledge. No one knows the Son the way the Father does, nor the Father the way the Son does. But I'm not keeping it to myself; I'm ready to go over it line by line with anyone willing to listen."
"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn how to live freely and lightly.
Matthew 11: 25-30
The Message
And the people said,
"Amen."
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Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
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