When asked what was the greatest, most important commandment, Jesus answered LOVE. I, too, believe this is the most important directive we get from Jesus’ teachings.

First, love the LORD your God with all your heart, and second, love your neighbor as yourself. At the Leadership Summit this weekend, some of the speakers asked, “who is your neighbor?”. They talked about helping the poor, the sick, the destitute, the poverty stricken, what many call “the least of these”. I think we absolutely SHOULD help those, our neighbors, and brothers and sisters in Christ, but people get overwhelmed when they see the AIDS epidemic in Africa. Or the poverty in South America or Asia. They think “how can I make a difference there? Its so HUGE!”.

Its the age old question of ‘How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time!’.

I think we need to start somewhere, and for many people, its a more local, practical application of God’s love. Make the decision to be a little nicer to your friends and family, even if they’ve done something to wrong you. Forgive, even if you don’t think they deserve it. Forgiveness doesn’t free someone else, it frees YOU. Be more patient when driving, don’t honk as soon as the light turns green and the person in front of you doesn’t move. Say hello, goodbye, please, and thank you to anyone who serves you throughout the day. Remember, your waitress/cashier/delivery man are people with lives, children and worries.

You can always practically apply Jesus’ command to love your neighbor on a daily basis, and you’ll see, the more loving you are, the more love you’ll want to give, when you see the impact it makes on other people’s lives and especially yours.

Any comments on love, or random acts of kindness you’ve done?