"Love your neighbor as yourself" is mentioned 8 times in the Bible. It is a command, not a suggestion.
9 “‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. 10 Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the Lord your God. 11 “‘Do not steal. “‘Do not lie.
“‘Do not deceive one another.
12 “‘Do not swear falsely by my name and so profane the name of your God. I am the Lord.
13 “‘Do not defraud or rob your neighbor.
“‘Do not hold back the wages of a hired worker overnight.
14 “‘Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your God. I am the Lord.
15 “‘Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly.
16 “‘Do not go about spreading slander among your people.
“‘Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life. I am the Lord.
17 “‘Do not hate a fellow Israelite in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in their guilt.
18 “‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord." Leviticus 19:9-18
Who is our Neighbor?
Throughout history people have put limits on the defintion of neighbor -- limited to people they approved of. this is not what Jesus said. There is no limitation on neighbor. Everyone is your neighbor. Everyone.
How to Love Your Neighbor:
1. Know what love is: "10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." 1 John 4:10
God's love saves us from ourselves -- our SELF nature. Look at everyone through God's love. Until you feel loved by God, until you realize you are loved, it will be mighty hard to love others. Measurement -- we need to put God's value on people.
"39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[a]" Matthew 22:39
Realize I am valued by God as His child. See other's value too. God doesn't want anyone to perish. God left the door open for everyone -- many will reject Him, but He still wants them and still pursues them. He wants the wanderers.
"9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9
Love your neighbor -- give them grace. Grace is so good to receive; often hard to give. But that is no excuse.
"18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen." 2 Peter 3:18
Only if you plant the seed and then work it and maintain the ground, weeding, watering and so on will it grow. We are the same. Through God's grace we will grow if we press into Jesus. God's grace allows us to fall and get back up again. I have been forgiven a debt I would never be able to repay. How can I withhold forgiveness and grace from anyone?
"32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." Ephesians 4:32
Love Your Neighbor -- take the backseat. Don't be calling shotgun.
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-
"minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:" Philippians 2:1-5
If you are in a hurry and see someone who needs help, help. Be late. Help. Never think you are too good to help or not enough to help.
Loving your neighbor is action
1. How we speak.
2. What we do.
3. How we look at others.
4. Giving the benefit of the doubt.
5. Sharing the gospel with love.
6. Forgiving 70 times 7.