Jesus said in Mark 12:31 that one of the greatest commandments is to “love your neighbor as yourself.” He said this is the “second” of the great commandments, the first being, “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength” (Mark 12:30). Jesus explained what it means to love Him in John 14:15, when He said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”
          Would it not follow, then, that loving your neighbor would involve encouraging them—gently and tactfully—to obey God? Certainly, we must consider our words carefully, refusing to compromise while maintaining God’s loving message of grace and mercy.
          Paul encourages his readers to “speak the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15). May we never forget there are two parts to the admonition: speak the truth, and speak in love. There are too many religious types that leave out one or the other. Some, full of what they believe is love, teach about God’s grace and mercy but ignore the need for obedience. Others are full of vitriol as they point out God’s disdain for sinful activities and lifestyles.
          The point of teaching the truth is to bring sinners to repentance, patiently presenting God’s will (2 Timothy 4:2). We must make them aware that their actions are not approved by God, whether it is covetousness, homosexuality, fornication, hatred, or any of the other sins exposed by inspiration (1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:19-21).
          We cannot force anyone to obey Him, but we can point them in the right direction. Our Lord said, “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day” (John 12:48). When that last day comes, not one soul that is alive today will have an excuse for disobedience and rebellion.
          Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). There is no other option but Christ.