Guidelines to Live by in 2020

 
We live in a society where there seems to be no solid guidelines to govern our behavior.  However, I suggest that we can’t go wrong if we live by two straight-forward guidelines.  They are found in the Gospel of Matthew 22:39-40 which says:  Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” These are two equal rules but one can’t do the first without knowing Jesus Christ as your personal Savior.  And He gives us numerous examples.
 
In one parable He models the good Samaritan for us (Luke 10:30-36). In another parable He shows us how to handle wayward family members (Luke 15: 11-32).  He also shows us how to handle people involved in sexual misconduct (John 8:3-11). He shows us how to interact with those of a different ethnicity as we are (John 4: 6-43). In numerous other parables and examples Jesus models a life lived by the two previous rules. 
 
So, what does love require of us when we live next to a mean, cantankerous neighbor?  What does love require of us when one of our children adopts an alternative lifestyle?  What does love require of us when one of our good friends is of an opposing political persuasion?  I could go on and on, but I know that if we practice asking what love requires of us in 2020 the world will be a better place and we will be happier and a more loving person.