RPG Adults
LOVING YOUR NEIGHBOUR AS YOURSELF!
LORD’S DAY, JUNE 2
Leviticus 19
1 John 3:18
“Thou shalt not hate thy brother in
thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke
thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him.”
LOVING YOUR NEIGHBOUR AS YOURSELF!
Biblical love always begins with feelings, but never stops at feelings. It must be expressed in practical terms for it to be genuine and pleasing to God. A warm feeling of love and care without a practical expression is false love. Leviticus 19 expresses the believer’s love for his neighbours in many practical ways. He was not to hate his brother in his heart, and was to rebuke him when he sinned. Rebuking sin is one of the hardest things to do. But it is the best expression of brotherly love. Failure to rebuke was to let the brother sin further, hurting himself and the people around him. Above all, he would damage the Name of Jesus Christ that he bore.
The believer had to be just in his judgment and not be a respecter of persons in judgment. Unjust judgment is one of the best ways to destroy relationships and morale in every family, society and church. He was not to gossip and be a false witness against his neighbour. He was not to be vengeful and not bear a grudge against his neighbour. He was to forgive and help as they were all bearing a holy witness for God in Christ in the Land of Promise.
When an Israelite committed any of the above sins against his neighbour, he was doing the work of the devil in destroying the witness of God for Christ through Israel, the holy nation.
This is exactly what is happening in many churches today. Fellowship meals and Bible study sessions have become times of gossip and complaints in the name of sharing! We are not aware that we have become tools of Satan, sowing seeds of discord that hurt and harm lives and even destroy relationships. These are actions of hate toward the brethren. It is a common sin that must be stopped at all costs by God’s people. Whenever such “sharing” is done, rebuke is the best way to stop the devil and his minions.
MEMORISATION: Leviticus 19:18
PRAYER: Help me, Father, to be discerning and to guard my tongue, and to rebuke my neighbour for Jesus’ sake. Amen.