The second half of the two great commandments is to love your neighbor as you love yourself. The assumption is made that we already love ourselves. Not necessarily like us, but love us. We love ourselves by making sure we eat, and strive to keep ourselves safe. Loving ourselves is the practice of caring for our own needs. In the same way we care for ourselves, we should for others.

How does “Love your neighbor as you love yourself”, synergize with “Go and make disciples.”? If you think about it, they do hand in hand. Making a disciple is the best way to love a neighbor as yourself. When you share what Christ has done for you, while caring for your neighbor, you have shared the best news you have ever heard. That good news frees you to love your neighbor as yourself.

All of your needs are met in Christ Jesus. All that you have been given has been provided from God’s hand. Being reconciled to God through Jesus is the very reason you are able to love your neighbor. Christ dying for us when we were still sinners allows us to love our neighbors right where they’re at.