T H E O P H I L U S

⁸ Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. ⁹ The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁰ Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. – Romans 13:8-10

Have you ever experienced feelings of dislike or even hatred towards someone so intense that, no matter how hard you tried, you couldn’t find a way to express anything but those negative emotions? It’s a situation many of us have found ourselves in, feeling so adversely about someone—whether they’ve wronged us or not—that the idea of showing them kindness seems utterly unfathomable. The prospect of being in their presence can feel more daunting than losing something we hold dear. And unfortunately, some of us know too well the pain of being on the receiving end of such feelings, leading to a profound sense of discouragement and sorrow. We might feel as though we owe something, that we must somehow earn their liking or approval. In turn, some react by mirroring this disdain, responding with harshness or withdrawing entirely. But what do these dynamics lead to? They foster division, dishonesty, harmful speech, aggression, and even larger conflicts. Such broken relationships bear no positive fruit, only leading to further sin and deepening our spiritual debt to one another and ourselves.

When we succumb to feelings of hatred or disdain towards others, we fail to extend the very essence that Christ entrusted us to share with the world: love. This love is not merely a gift; it was purchased at the highest price—the sacrifice of Christ. Given the unconditional love that God showers upon us, loving our neighbors is not merely a suggestion but a commandment, an irrevocable charge for those who follow and believe in Christ. To hate our neighbor is, in every sense, a sin—one that can be seen as the root of many others, as it withholds the freely given love that we ourselves have received.

In light of this, let us approach today with a renewed sense of compassion: the negative feelings we harbor towards our neighbors, and the hurtful words born from our thoughts and tongues, must be met with deliberate acts of love—regardless of how challenging that may feel. This call to love is not optional but a core aspect of our identity in Christ, inviting us to reflect His boundless love in our every interaction.

“Do not waste time bothering whether you ‘love’ your neighbor; act as if you did. As soon as we do this we find one of the great secrets. When you are behaving as if you loved someone, you will presently come to love him.” – C.S. Lewis