Love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord. (Lev. 19:18)
Expanded Passage: Leviticus 19:11-18
One man prayed for a safe journey, then proceeded to speed down the road. An hour into the trip, a child ran into the road and was struck and killed. The driver, while feeling terrible, maintained that God had failed him in his request. Had the driver obeyed Paul’s teaching to follow the laws of the land (Rom. 13:1–6), the driver would have been miles short of the location when the child ran out into the road.
Too often we think more about how much we can get away with, meeting only the minimum expectation of the law, rather than how much further we can go into righteousness. We should exceed the minimum requirement always.
If a line were drawn between good and evil, sinners would be found living on the evil side, some deeper into sin than others. Such a line represents the minimum requirement for righteousness. The way across the line is salvation by faith in Jesus, which brings us to righteousness. As we mature in the faith, we will be found moving deeper into the righteousness of Christ.
There are thirteen “do nots” in our passage and only one “do” (love your neighbor). This tells us something about the importance of loving our neighbor.
Take one step deeper into the will of God today.
Randall A. Forbes was director of plant operations at Kingswood University (Canada). He is an artist, retired minister, follower of Christ, and lover of life.
© 2025 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
