Who's My Neighbor? A Biblical Call To Love OthersMuestra

A Love for ALL People

Banning Dawson

Let’s be honest, the book of Leviticus is a difficult one to read through. I can recall a handful of road-trips where I attempted to listen to the Bible on the YouVersion App. I’d make my way through Genesis and Exodus but despite my best efforts, once the reader got to Leviticus it was as if the trip would never end (“Are we there yet?!”). With a smooth, trusting voice, and a piano swelling in the background as if to somehow aid the stirring of my heart with all the “thou shall nots”, the audio-reader did the best they could with what they had, but I simply could not find the relevancy these words might have on my life. And, typically four to six chapters into the book of Leviticus I would give up, turn on a podcast, and continue driving. So, what are we to do with Leviticus? How are we to make sense of these ancient commands? And, how might they transform our lives?

I am one who appreciates context. And, it is quite helpful to read Leviticus with some context. We see at the beginning of chapter 19, the LORD says, “You shall be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.” This is the heart and spirit of Leviticus. The book of Leviticus is about a holy and loving God inviting the people of Israel to be a holy and loving people, not just so they could be pious, or “holier-than-thou,” but so God might transform and reconcile the world through them. They were to be a people who God was going to bless SO THAT they might be a blessing to ALL other people. I’ll say it again, to ALL people. God desires for ALL people to know and experience the holy and transformative love of God. Which means we are invited to extend this blessing to ALL people, including people who have completely different perspectives and life experiences than you. When we respond to God’s invitation to love our neighbors, to love the “foreigner among us,” we not only practice the inclusive and transformative love of God, we offer life and hope to those who may not be able to provide it for themselves. For further study and a tangible example, I encourage you to read the story of Ruth.