Love Your Neighbor

You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord. Leviticus 19:18

Jesus said “The greatest command was to love God and Love your neighbor.” The command in the Old Testament not to take vengeance or carry out a grudge against “your people”, maybe this is family or neighbors, or church people. I see it much broader because there were only two people in the Old Testament, the Israelites and the non Israelites or the Gentiles. Although I’m grafted into the Jewish family, I am a Gentile. I don’t think that by this scripture I am allowed to seek vengeance or hold a grudge, as I am part of both the Jewish and the Gentile people. Vengeance belongs to the Lord. The Lord calls me to pray for those who have hurt me. I am called to love others with the same love that God has loved me.

Lord, I love you. I don’t feel like I have a grudge against anyone or that I am seeking revenge. If there is Lord reveal them to me and change my heart so that I may see them and love them, as you love me.