In the New Testament, Jesus responds to questions about the Law by expressing how important it is to love your neighbor. While some argue the specifics and technicalities of whom your neighbor really is, the Scriptures make it clear that loving your neighbor is second only in importance to loving God.

And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. —Mark 12:33, KJV

Another passage emphasizes the same message:

This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself  —Matthew 22:38-39, KJV

This command is referred to as the Royal Law:

If ye fulfill the royal law according to the scripture Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well. —James 2:8, KJV

And, again:

For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. —Galatians 5:14, KJV

One way to show love to your neighbors is by keeping your neighborhood on tract. There are many ways to do this, both spiritually and practically.

One practical way to keep your neighborhood on the right path is to be a witness by making sure your house and lawn are well maintained. If one of your neighbors is ill or out of town, mow or water his lawn. Rake her leaves, or shovel snow off of her drive.

Did your neighbors recently welcome a new baby into their home or is someone in the neighborhood in the process of recovering from a hospital stay? Bring them a meal. These gestures really take only a few extra minutes out of your day and make a huge impression on those who are on the receiving end.

Another way to spread God’s Word to neighbors is to respect them and not speak harshly about them. Be quick to overlook offenses and instead, show love. If a neighbor feels like they are not being unfairly judged, they are more likely to trust what you have to say about the Bible.

Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. —Exodus 20:16, KJV

In addition to living out your faith and neighborly love, some Christians want to go a step farther and share the Good News in the form of tracts. Tracts are small pamphlets, or leaflets, of information that are handed out. Gospel tracts summarize God’s love, and the road to salvation.

Though some believers want to avoid holidays that are controversial, or not of God, sometimes shining a light into the darkness opens up doors that would not otherwise be opened for a neighbor to accept Christ. One fun way to hand out neighborhood tracts is to create treat bags at Halloween that you hand out, along with the best candy on the block.

Another form of a tract is to hand out door hangings inviting neighbors to your church for a special service, or invite their children to Vacation Bible School. Of course, the tracts are most effective when the recipient knows that the neighbor the tract came from is authentic in living out the life of faith.

God’s ideal desire is to draw all men unto Him. One day there will be no need to share the Gospel with your neighbor, because they will already know.

For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: And they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. —Hebrews 8:11 KJV

Until this day comes, there is a need to keep your neighborhood on tract. The best way to do this is to walk alongside your neighbors as a living testimony of love.