Who lives next door to your house? Can you picture them in your mind? Now here’s a question: Do you think of them as your “neighbor”?

In the Bible, when Jesus talked about loving your neighbor, He didn’t just mean the people who live on your street. He meant EVERYONE! Your “neighbors” are the kids at school, the people at church, the cashier at the store, your teacher, your coach—everyone you meet!

One time a religious leader asked Jesus, “What’s the most important command in the Bible?” Jesus said the first is to love God with everything in us. Then, He said the second is to “love your neighbor as yourself.” Then Jesus said something really important: all of God’s commands are wrapped up in these two things—loving God and loving others!”

Here’s why that’s so amazing: If you truly love God and truly love others, you’ll automatically follow all the other rules! If you love your neighbor, you won’t lie to them, steal from them, or be mean to them. You’ll want to help them, be kind to them, and treat them the way you want to be treated!

Jesus showed us the best example of loving others. He loves people so much that He died on the cross to save us! He loves God the Father, and He loves us as His neighbors. He is perfect in every way because He loved perfectly!

Think About It: Who’s the hardest person for you to love right now? Maybe someone who’s been mean to you or someone who’s really annoying? Here’s the cool part: When you ask Jesus to help you love that person, He can love them through you! You don’t have to do it on your own. Jesus will give you His love for that person. Try this week to do one kind thing for someone who’s hard to love. Ask Jesus to help you love them the way He does!