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Right vs. Righteous

Mark 12:31 The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'

Jesus' words are so simple, yet I believe we as humans struggle with the this.  I find that the majority of the time, I can put myself in someone else's shoes and understand where he/she might be coming from. However, I definitely have moments when I want to be right and forget that my calling is to be righteous.  At those times, love for my neighbor kind of goes out the window.  I have found that the moment I start arguing my position in order to be right, I become spiritually ugly and do not help others to see Jesus at all nor do they feel God's love.  In order to be righteous, one must be selfless.  As a fallen human, this is contrary to my earthly nature, selfishness.  Therein lies the need for Jesus.  That change of my very nature comes into play again, just like with the fruit of the Spirit.  In order to become selfless, I must have the one who was the perfect example of a selfless life, Jesus, living in me.  If I am selfless, following this simple command to 'love my neighbor as myself' will be no problem at all.  When I allow Jesus to work in me and make me selfless, righteousness is found and others see Jesus and feel the love of God.  In some moments being righteous means just being quiet, even when you know you're right.  Boy is that hard to do!  But if Jesus could show righteousness through his silence on the cross, then we have no excuse for our lack of silence at anytime.  Thankfully it's God's job to change the hearts and minds of people, not ours.

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