PORTERVILLE POST | The "RIGHT" Word © ~ with Brother Scott

| “God’s Standard Regarding Love” #3

The Right Word^© - Nov 30, 2025
with Brother Scott : scott@portervillepost.com

Moving forward while keeping in mind what our love for God is to be like, today we will address how we are to love our neighbor.
Listen : [ → † Mark 12:28 ↔ † Matthew 22:40 ↔ † Matthew 7:12 ← ]
A follower of Jesus must spiritually grow to the place where in our lives no one is loved more than God. Our love for our family members and close friends, for each other in the church family, and at the farthest out in our established relationships, our love for God is to exceed the love we have for another and all others.
While it is true that for a time, a spiritually growing Christian may have more love for a spouse and children, by our needed spiritual development there must come a time where we love God more than all others; that is the expectation of God, for He is due such a devoted love but as explained, love for God is a very effective tool against sin and rebellion against the ways of God that we are to follow.
Jesus made it abundantly clear that God’s highest expectation of us is to love Him and our neighbor. And as to the question, “Who is my neighbor”, that has been asked by a lawyer and answered by Jesus for our instruction.

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† Luke 10:25 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? 27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. 28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. 29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbor (fellow man, countryman, near-to person [Heb. word: fellow citizen])? 30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, 34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. 36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? 37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

Based on what Jesus said in this teaching, I conclude that our neighbors are everybody we routinely encounter as well as others we cross paths with daily in one-time events.
I take the Hebrew word for “‘loving’ thy neighbor as thyself”, which means to “have affection for”, as my guide about how I relate to everyone I interact with daily.
With a deep and devoted love for God, His love for souls comes to the forefront of my daily habit of recognizing everyone I come in contact with as a person loved by God, and a soul that I also should have enough “affection” for, to care enough about him and her, to at least smile and even briefly greet or speak to as I pass by or encounter them.

(Audio:) Hear the story of the man that jumped from a bridge because no one spoke to him on his fateful walk to it.

† Luke 10’s love for our neighbor is about a genuine affection for all others in our lives, including those we have never previously met and probably will never see again but that we randomly encounter daily.
This is to say that we are to genuinely care for them as eternal souls. Of course, there are various levels of love for others (spouse, children, best friends, casual friends, and others we associate with or meet today in our lives) but at the heart of all levels of “love” there is to be as the least of our feelings what the Bible’s word “love” for our neighbor is, which means to “to have affection for”.
Again, as followers of Jesus this affection for all others, at least in part, is about our mindfulness of their eternity and where they will spend it.

Affection: A positive feeling you have or express for other people. A favorable or kindly disposition towards another (being naturally biased in the positive). A tender feeling toward another, which includes caring about them expressed through gestures, words, or physical touch, and is associated with emotional connections and love. Synonyms: goodwill, warmth, friendliness, amiable, cordial, a loved one, compassion. Genuine affection is felt without any selfish intentions.

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† Leviticus 19:18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love (have affection for) thy neighbour (brother, companion, fellow citizen, friend, husband, lover, neighbour) as thyself: I am the LORD. . . 33 And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not vex him. 34 But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love (Heb. ahab: have affection for) him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.
† Romans 12:9 Let love (Gr. agape) be without dissimulation (no hypocrisy, not be feigned). Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10 Be kindly affectioned (philo-storgos: friendship + familial love) one to another with brotherly love (Gr. philadelphia: fondness of the brethren); in honour preferring one another. . .
† Hebrews 13:1 Let brotherly love continue.
† 1 Thessalonians 4:9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love (agapao: love in a social or moral sense) one another.

A quick aside: From time-to-time we will encounter others that are abrasive or rude or even sour toward us. For some of us it might take some help and training by the Holy Spirit but we are to not respond in-kind and “give the devil his or her due”.
As much as we can, we are to remain at peace and work at exuding peace for the great good it might do for the other person. If agape’s “affection for others” that is to be unconditional is at play in our personal lives, we can stay calm and not offended and continue to be an ambassador of God by love.

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† Romans 12:16 Be of the same mind (set affection on, be disposed toward) one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate [move to their level, do things below your dignity for men of lesser degrees in life]. Be not wise in your own conceits. 17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably (be and act in peace) with all men.

For each of you I at the very least have affection for you; tender feelings and a positive attitude about you.
For some others in my life there are more developed feelings of love due to a much longer and sweeter relationship.
And for others that I see when I am out and about there is a genuine favorable feeling for, and it is my practice to say, “Good morning or afternoon with a smile”, while hoping for eye contact and maybe a response, even something that I can open a conversation with. My heart is glad to see others and I have hope for the best for each of them.

The Bottom Line Is This:

According to how Jesus laid it out, I do not need to be in a relationship with someone for them to be my neighbor. I share these thoughts for you to think on and consider how you might treat everyone you pass-by each day—are they secretly the wounded man or a woman on the side of life’s road that everyone else just passes by on the other side?
Now the Apostle Paul addresses the issue of “love without conditions” for all others in † First Corinthians 13. In the first 3 verses he warns against genuinely good works done but which lack love or at least affection for others as a believer representing the Lord. We would be wise to remember that in these first 3 verses it is the Lord’s point of view that Paul is informing us about.

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† 1 Corinthians 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity (agape: love, affection or benevolence; from agapao: much love in a social or moral sense), I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned (set on fire; i.e. martyrdom), and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing (has no benefit).

Now it’s not that we should not be involved with such things, but it is to be with a heart of love for God and for others as well, often referred to as having charity, regarding others especially.

Charity: The voluntary provision of assistance to those in need and is unmotivated by self-interest. It is help or relief to the needy, suffering, helpless, or ill. Charity embodies the spirit of kindness with generosity and good will toward others, especially the less fortunate. Charity expresses the principles of genuine care and compassion, empathy, and generosity, often involving giving of one’s time, money, other personal resources, or skills at no cost.

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† Proverbs 3:27 Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it. 28 Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.
† James 2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
† 1 John 3:17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

Therefore, genuine charity, how does it behave and how does it feel toward others? Paul continues in † 1st Corinthians 13:

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† 1 Corinthians 13:4 Charity (agape: affection or benevolence) suffereth long (long patience), and is kind (acts benevolently); charity envieth not (motivated by covetousness); charity vaunteth not itself (boast or brag), is not puffed up (inflated, haughty by pride), 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly (act unbecoming; inappropriatly), seeketh not her own (does not plot on her own behalf), is not easily provoked (exasperated, provoked), thinketh no evil (cause injury or ill); 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity (unrighteousness or injustice against another), but rejoiceth in the truth (verity; honesty); 7 Beareth (endures patiently, covers with silence) all things, believeth (has faith, gives credit, commits to trust) all things, hopeth (has confidence, is expectant) all things, endureth (undergoes, bears, perseveres) all things. 8 Charity never faileth (driven off course, becomes inefficient, falls away): but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 13 And now abideth (stays, continues) faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest (larger; from megas) of these is charity.

Love is the very best motivation (never money or favor)!

If we will get love right in our lives, as God has firmly directed us to and the Apostle John’s writings also assert we must, the other important issues of our becoming a Christian through-and-through will in fairly short-order be resolved because we love God so very much and all others with affection and care.
With genuine love for others comes freedom—freedom to forgive, be helpful, patient with others, giving and even generous.
Having heard these three lessons on God’s Standard Regarding Love you are now on the hook for what God has commanded and expects of you.
We are to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, and to have affection for our neighbors as we do and favor our own selves (neighbor: brother, companion, fellow-citizen, friend, spouse, neighbor).

That is The Word of The Living God!

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† 1 John 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
† John 15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. 13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends (philos).
† John 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. . . 23 ... If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

I want that! I want the Father to love me and for both He and Jesus to make their abode within me but it all starts with love.

~ Brother Scott ... With ... The Right Word^© ... For Today~

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