How Should You Love of Your Neighbor

Romans 15 New International Version (NIV)

15 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2 Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. 3 For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” 4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. 5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, 6 so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.
As Paul closes his letter to the Romans, he continues to teach them on how they should live together in the body of Christ.  His principle, as he taught yesterday, was that the "strong" ought to bear the failings of the "weak".  The strong should focus on building up or "edifying" the weak by encouraging them.  Their motivation to serve in this way is the example of Christ, who constantly put other's needs in front of his own.  Later, he says they should have the same "attitude of mind" toward each other that Christ Jesus had.  
Serving others as if they are better than you is an "attitude". It is a choice.  The choice is to put their interests above our own.  It is the opposite of living according to the flesh which is always thinking, "what about me?" This is where he got his phrase, which he used ad nauseum in his writing, "love of neighbor".  For Luther the indicator of the quality of the Christian life and discipleship is love of neighbor.  Simply put, Christians should take care of their own as a sign that they are "Christ followers".  Christians should love like no other.  And that love should not only be in taking care of their own, but also flow into the communities and worlds they live in. 
How is your "love of neighbor" going?  Are you too busy to have time to love your neighbor?  And realize this can also mean those in your own family.  Our own family is in a sense our closest neighbor.  Loving your neighbor can help you get out of yourself and is a good antidote to feeling sorry for one's self.  As we love our neighbors this weekend, remember we are doing exactly what Jesus would do if he were us.   

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