God”™s law was given through Moses in the wilderness of Sinai to the people of Israel, preparing them to become a unique nation in the world. (Israel is the only nation which was “˜disbanded”™ then brought back to be a nation. The miracle of Israel is with us today.)

One of the laws was:

(NASB) Leviticus 19:18 “”˜You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord.”™”

The Lord began with the negative: we are not to take vengeance to right a wrong against us! We are not to harbor, bear a grudge ““ it eats away at the person who carries such a burden. Anger and unkindness toward others will be a result.

These attitudes of vengeance and bearing grudges for perceived wrongs (usually toward us personally) maims and even kills relationships.

Then the Lord used a positive in His command: “love your neighbor as yourself”.

Wow! Don”™t you and I see ourselves as being “˜right”™ and others “˜wrong”™? Don”™t we want our needs met, period?

Now, looking at what God has said, I need to work to meet others needs as I want my needs met by them.

Who commanded this? “I am the Lord.” The Holy God of the Bible! The Lord God who is so holy the Hebrew people do not spell or pronounce His name but give the letters YHWH to indicate this holy God.

Who do you need to love as yourself today?