Leviticus 19:18 (ERV)
Forget about the wrong things people do to you. Donโt try to get even. Love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.
We are reminded of the moment when an expert in the law tried to test Jesus by asking Him which commandment was the greatest. Jesus responded, in essence, with the instruction to love God and to love your neighbor. It is important to remember that this teaching was not a new concept introduced by Jesus; rather, it was rooted in the original instructions given to the Jewish people. As highlighted in todayโs scripture, this command was first established in the book of Leviticus and reiterated in Deuteronomy. In quoting these scriptures, Jesus was affirming the enduring truth found in the Jewish law.
This commandment is not merely a rule for behavior but reflects the very essence of how God calls us to live. It is, in fact, the foundation of our created purpose. When we choose to love our neighbors, pray for our enemies, and serve others, we are embracing the life that God designed for us. Through these actions, we open ourselves to the peace and joy promised in scripture, experiencing true communion with all that God has made.
Forget about the wrong things people do to you. Donโt try to get even. Love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.
We are reminded of the moment when an expert in the law tried to test Jesus by asking Him which commandment was the greatest. Jesus responded, in essence, with the instruction to love God and to love your neighbor. It is important to remember that this teaching was not a new concept introduced by Jesus; rather, it was rooted in the original instructions given to the Jewish people. As highlighted in todayโs scripture, this command was first established in the book of Leviticus and reiterated in Deuteronomy. In quoting these scriptures, Jesus was affirming the enduring truth found in the Jewish law.
This commandment is not merely a rule for behavior but reflects the very essence of how God calls us to live. It is, in fact, the foundation of our created purpose. When we choose to love our neighbors, pray for our enemies, and serve others, we are embracing the life that God designed for us. Through these actions, we open ourselves to the peace and joy promised in scripture, experiencing true communion with all that God has made.
๐ ๐๐จ๐ก๐ง ๐:๐
๐๐๐๐ซ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ง๐๐ฌ, ๐ฅ๐๐ญ ๐ฎ๐ฌ ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฏ๐ ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐จ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ, ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฏ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐๐จ๐. ๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฒ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ฐ๐ก๐จ ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ฌ ๐ก๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐ง ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ง ๐จ๐ ๐๐จ๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ค๐ง๐จ๐ฐ๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐.
We need to get back to community. This is what God created us for. However, over time, we have gradually narrowed our lives, confining ourselves to smaller circles. We often mistake internet acquaintances and social media followers for genuine friends. Yet, humans were created by God to be in communionโnot only with God, but also with one another. When fear leads us to distance ourselves from both God and our neighbors, the evil in this world gains ground.
Only through love of God and neighbor can we break this cycle of isolation and disconnection. When we truly love someone, we discover our own true selvesโthe person God intended us to be. In loving others, we move away from fear and anger and instead embrace hope and curiosity. Rather than judging others for their shortcomings, we become humbled and empathetic, recognizing our own need for grace.
True love is about giving, just as God gives to us. It is not about what we can gain, but about what we can offer as servants to others. Our goal, then, should be to love others as God has loved usโselflessly, generously, and with a heart open to community.
๐๐๐๐ซ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ง๐๐ฌ, ๐ฅ๐๐ญ ๐ฎ๐ฌ ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฏ๐ ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐จ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ, ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฏ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐๐จ๐. ๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฒ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ฐ๐ก๐จ ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ฌ ๐ก๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐ง ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ง ๐จ๐ ๐๐จ๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ค๐ง๐จ๐ฐ๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐.
We need to get back to community. This is what God created us for. However, over time, we have gradually narrowed our lives, confining ourselves to smaller circles. We often mistake internet acquaintances and social media followers for genuine friends. Yet, humans were created by God to be in communionโnot only with God, but also with one another. When fear leads us to distance ourselves from both God and our neighbors, the evil in this world gains ground.
Only through love of God and neighbor can we break this cycle of isolation and disconnection. When we truly love someone, we discover our own true selvesโthe person God intended us to be. In loving others, we move away from fear and anger and instead embrace hope and curiosity. Rather than judging others for their shortcomings, we become humbled and empathetic, recognizing our own need for grace.
True love is about giving, just as God gives to us. It is not about what we can gain, but about what we can offer as servants to others. Our goal, then, should be to love others as God has loved usโselflessly, generously, and with a heart open to community.
1 Peter 3:8 โ 9
8 Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
We live in a world that thrives on conflict. We not only follow the Old Testament principle of "an eye for an eye," but also believe in responding with greater force than received. We think that fear is the best way to keep people from mistreating us. Because of this way of thinking, there can only be escalating conflict in which there can be no end.
How does this compare to this scripture and the teachings of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. Are we not called to turn the other cheek, to love your enemies and pray for those that persecute you. How is this possible? That is where the first verse comes in. It starts with loving one another and the acknowledgement that we are all in need of Godโs grace. Being humble and removing the log from our own eye before we try to remove the speck from our neighbors. Choosing to end conflict instead of fueling it. This is the way that we shine the light of Godโs love into this dark world.
8 Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
We live in a world that thrives on conflict. We not only follow the Old Testament principle of "an eye for an eye," but also believe in responding with greater force than received. We think that fear is the best way to keep people from mistreating us. Because of this way of thinking, there can only be escalating conflict in which there can be no end.
How does this compare to this scripture and the teachings of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. Are we not called to turn the other cheek, to love your enemies and pray for those that persecute you. How is this possible? That is where the first verse comes in. It starts with loving one another and the acknowledgement that we are all in need of Godโs grace. Being humble and removing the log from our own eye before we try to remove the speck from our neighbors. Choosing to end conflict instead of fueling it. This is the way that we shine the light of Godโs love into this dark world.
James 1:2 โ 4 (The Message)
2-4 Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So donโt try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.
I know there are times that we think, "Please God, enough." Where we do not think that we can take any more. But it is in these times that we are given the opportunity to learn to let God and His Spirit take the lead. This is so contrary to what the world would have you believe.
We have all heard the saying that God only gives you what you can handle. I used to add to this by saying that Godโs opinion is higher of me than my own. But it is in these times of extreme struggle that we can learn the most important lesson from God. Put your faith in God and Godโs love. When kneading dough for bread it must be worked repeatedly until itโs ready for the next step where the yeast grows the bread from within. From there that bread is baked as the finishing touch. If any of these steps is cut short the finished product, while still being bread, is not what was planned. The same is true for our faith and its development. Trust in God and Godโs plan. Godโs timing is perfect. In those times of tests and challenges trust in the Lordโs plan for your growth and development.
2-4 Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So donโt try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.
I know there are times that we think, "Please God, enough." Where we do not think that we can take any more. But it is in these times that we are given the opportunity to learn to let God and His Spirit take the lead. This is so contrary to what the world would have you believe.
We have all heard the saying that God only gives you what you can handle. I used to add to this by saying that Godโs opinion is higher of me than my own. But it is in these times of extreme struggle that we can learn the most important lesson from God. Put your faith in God and Godโs love. When kneading dough for bread it must be worked repeatedly until itโs ready for the next step where the yeast grows the bread from within. From there that bread is baked as the finishing touch. If any of these steps is cut short the finished product, while still being bread, is not what was planned. The same is true for our faith and its development. Trust in God and Godโs plan. Godโs timing is perfect. In those times of tests and challenges trust in the Lordโs plan for your growth and development.
Philippians 2:3 โ 4 ESV
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
We live in a world that celebrates personal achievement and self-reliance above all else. That it is a sign of weakness to need or even ask for assistance in any manner. And in so doing we allow both our selfish ambition and pride to guide us into a false sense of what constitutes a successful life.
However, if we are to live as Christians this is contrary to the teachings on which our faith is founded. First, all that we have in this world is but a gift by the grace of God. We have done nothing to earn it. With this realization we then become humble seeing that we are not better than others, but we are all equal in the eyes of God. And through humility we learn to be servants to others just as Christ himself was a servant to us all.
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
We live in a world that celebrates personal achievement and self-reliance above all else. That it is a sign of weakness to need or even ask for assistance in any manner. And in so doing we allow both our selfish ambition and pride to guide us into a false sense of what constitutes a successful life.
However, if we are to live as Christians this is contrary to the teachings on which our faith is founded. First, all that we have in this world is but a gift by the grace of God. We have done nothing to earn it. With this realization we then become humble seeing that we are not better than others, but we are all equal in the eyes of God. And through humility we learn to be servants to others just as Christ himself was a servant to us all.
Proverbs 11:2 ESV
Before destruction a man's heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.
We must be careful in our assurance in salvation not to think too highly of ourselves. We must remember that all salvation is by the grace of God. We live in a time when we are taught from birth that we must earn our way in this world. That it is your work ethic and drive that determines each personโs success. And some project this to their own salvation. But as this scripture reminds us, that pride in oneself is not a good thing. In proverbs alone there are more than a dozen references about pride and humility. And when we expanded that scripture there were 80 references to humility and over 200 involving arrogance.
We must remember that we are no better than any other person. That we are all sinners and not worthy of Godโs grace. If we do not take this stance then how many others will we discourage from coming to know Jesus because they see themselves as unworthy. We need to follow that which Jesus wrote is Luke 6:37 โJudge not, and you shall not be judged; condemn not, and you shall not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgivenโ. Jesus came to save us all and we must have humility in our own salvation and empathy in our interaction with others. Remembering that none of us are worthy of Godโs grace and forgiveness yet God gives to all that ask.
Before destruction a man's heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.
We must be careful in our assurance in salvation not to think too highly of ourselves. We must remember that all salvation is by the grace of God. We live in a time when we are taught from birth that we must earn our way in this world. That it is your work ethic and drive that determines each personโs success. And some project this to their own salvation. But as this scripture reminds us, that pride in oneself is not a good thing. In proverbs alone there are more than a dozen references about pride and humility. And when we expanded that scripture there were 80 references to humility and over 200 involving arrogance.
We must remember that we are no better than any other person. That we are all sinners and not worthy of Godโs grace. If we do not take this stance then how many others will we discourage from coming to know Jesus because they see themselves as unworthy. We need to follow that which Jesus wrote is Luke 6:37 โJudge not, and you shall not be judged; condemn not, and you shall not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgivenโ. Jesus came to save us all and we must have humility in our own salvation and empathy in our interaction with others. Remembering that none of us are worthy of Godโs grace and forgiveness yet God gives to all that ask.
Genesis 1:1 โ 2
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
I have only included the first two verses of the creation story because it is too long to share here. But if you have the time, read all of Genesis Chapter 1.
The reason that I chose this for today is that we need to understand something. That creation by God did not end on the sixth day. My very first class for Course of Study the teacher talked about a creator God. I remember listening to him but not fully comprehending what he was saying. The reason for that is the same for most of us. We need to come to the realization that God continues to create every day. There is no limit to Godโs creation because there is no limit to God. We as humans cannot understand this because we are finite beings.
Most of our earthly problems stem from the idea that there is a finite amount of everything, including the love and gifts of God. Nothing could be further from the truth. And because of this belief in limited supply we then are drawn to compete for that limited love and gifts. We then work to acquire more of these gifts and hoard them so when they do run out. Guaranteeing we then will still have ours when the supply runs out. But if we transition to a belief that God, being infinite, continues to create then we move past the need to accumulate and into the space of sharing. We then can give as God would want us too. Because there is no fear that we will run out. Only when we place our faith in an infinite God and Godโs promise of love and grace can we see and live into what Jesus calls the Kingdom of Heaven. That peace comes not from the finite we can earn but to the infinite God can give. And with this, we know that Godโs well will never run dry.
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
I have only included the first two verses of the creation story because it is too long to share here. But if you have the time, read all of Genesis Chapter 1.
The reason that I chose this for today is that we need to understand something. That creation by God did not end on the sixth day. My very first class for Course of Study the teacher talked about a creator God. I remember listening to him but not fully comprehending what he was saying. The reason for that is the same for most of us. We need to come to the realization that God continues to create every day. There is no limit to Godโs creation because there is no limit to God. We as humans cannot understand this because we are finite beings.
Most of our earthly problems stem from the idea that there is a finite amount of everything, including the love and gifts of God. Nothing could be further from the truth. And because of this belief in limited supply we then are drawn to compete for that limited love and gifts. We then work to acquire more of these gifts and hoard them so when they do run out. Guaranteeing we then will still have ours when the supply runs out. But if we transition to a belief that God, being infinite, continues to create then we move past the need to accumulate and into the space of sharing. We then can give as God would want us too. Because there is no fear that we will run out. Only when we place our faith in an infinite God and Godโs promise of love and grace can we see and live into what Jesus calls the Kingdom of Heaven. That peace comes not from the finite we can earn but to the infinite God can give. And with this, we know that Godโs well will never run dry.
1 John 4:19 โ 20
19 We love because he first loved us. 20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.
Love, Love, Love, the very thing that is commanded by God for all to do. To love God and to love our brothers and sisters. That word love is used 46 times in 1 John 4 alone and as many times as 645 times (New Living Translation) in the New Testament. But just like anything else it is not enough to say the words if they are not put into deeds. There are many today that claim to love God yet express hate for others. When this is done we are not living as God has commanded.
We find ourselves struggling to love our brothers and sisters. We need to remind ourselves of the term โimago Deiโ Image of God. This is how we were all created and how God sees us all. We then must work towards seeing all in the image by which they were created, not the image the world projects them to be. In doing this we can then work towards our own sanctification while modeling Godโs love for those that might need to see it most.
19 We love because he first loved us. 20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.
Love, Love, Love, the very thing that is commanded by God for all to do. To love God and to love our brothers and sisters. That word love is used 46 times in 1 John 4 alone and as many times as 645 times (New Living Translation) in the New Testament. But just like anything else it is not enough to say the words if they are not put into deeds. There are many today that claim to love God yet express hate for others. When this is done we are not living as God has commanded.
We find ourselves struggling to love our brothers and sisters. We need to remind ourselves of the term โimago Deiโ Image of God. This is how we were all created and how God sees us all. We then must work towards seeing all in the image by which they were created, not the image the world projects them to be. In doing this we can then work towards our own sanctification while modeling Godโs love for those that might need to see it most.
๐๐ฌ๐๐ข๐๐ก ๐: ๐๐, ๐๐
๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ก๐จ๐ฌ๐ ๐ฐ๐ก๐จ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐ฏ๐ข๐ฅ ๐ ๐จ๐จ๐
๐๐ง๐ ๐ ๐จ๐จ๐ ๐๐ฏ๐ข๐ฅ,
๐ฐ๐ก๐จ ๐ฉ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐๐๐ซ๐ค๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ
๐๐ง๐ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐๐ซ๐ค๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ,
๐ฐ๐ก๐จ ๐ฉ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐๐ข๐ญ๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ฌ๐ฐ๐๐๐ญ
๐๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐ฐ๐๐๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ข๐ญ๐ญ๐๐ซ.
๐๐ ๐ฐ๐ก๐จ ๐๐๐ช๐ฎ๐ข๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ ๐ฎ๐ข๐ฅ๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐,
๐๐ฎ๐ญ ๐๐๐ง๐ฒ ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ง๐จ๐๐๐ง๐ญ.
We need to remember what it was that led to the exile that Isaiah writes about. The fundamental failure was that the people were lead away from Godโs covenant by leaders that were not consistent in their following of the mosaic law. And through their lead became the selfish beings that humans are when they live outside of God. They started to put their faith in men, not God.
The same has been true throughout history and we are cycling back again. We are bombarded everyday by two realities. We must then choose which is the one that is in service of God and which is driven by man. What we must recognize is that what we see in our world today is Godโs plan skewed to meet manโs desire. We must test all by the full word of God, not just the parts that match our world view.
Godโs view of the world is one of love of others, of being a servant first, and celebrating the diversity of Godโs continued creation. So, when we are trying to decide in whom to put our faith there is only one answer. Our faith must remain in God and all Godโs word. When we do this by his will, we then receive that peace that is promised in scripture. And in so doing recognize good from evil and light from dark.
๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ก๐จ๐ฌ๐ ๐ฐ๐ก๐จ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐ฏ๐ข๐ฅ ๐ ๐จ๐จ๐
๐๐ง๐ ๐ ๐จ๐จ๐ ๐๐ฏ๐ข๐ฅ,
๐ฐ๐ก๐จ ๐ฉ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐๐๐ซ๐ค๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ
๐๐ง๐ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐๐ซ๐ค๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ,
๐ฐ๐ก๐จ ๐ฉ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐๐ข๐ญ๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ฌ๐ฐ๐๐๐ญ
๐๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐ฐ๐๐๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ข๐ญ๐ญ๐๐ซ.
๐๐ ๐ฐ๐ก๐จ ๐๐๐ช๐ฎ๐ข๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ ๐ฎ๐ข๐ฅ๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐,
๐๐ฎ๐ญ ๐๐๐ง๐ฒ ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ง๐จ๐๐๐ง๐ญ.
We need to remember what it was that led to the exile that Isaiah writes about. The fundamental failure was that the people were lead away from Godโs covenant by leaders that were not consistent in their following of the mosaic law. And through their lead became the selfish beings that humans are when they live outside of God. They started to put their faith in men, not God.
The same has been true throughout history and we are cycling back again. We are bombarded everyday by two realities. We must then choose which is the one that is in service of God and which is driven by man. What we must recognize is that what we see in our world today is Godโs plan skewed to meet manโs desire. We must test all by the full word of God, not just the parts that match our world view.
Godโs view of the world is one of love of others, of being a servant first, and celebrating the diversity of Godโs continued creation. So, when we are trying to decide in whom to put our faith there is only one answer. Our faith must remain in God and all Godโs word. When we do this by his will, we then receive that peace that is promised in scripture. And in so doing recognize good from evil and light from dark.
Matthew 7:12
So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
As I was preparing for this weekโs devotionals my mind went to the Golden Rule. We were all taught this as children. Over my years of teaching, I would frequently use this as an example within the classroom. When I started teaching as soon as I would mention the Golden Rule the students would know immediately what I was referring to. But as the years went on I found myself needing to explain what I was referring to. And by the time that I retired from teaching I quit using the term Golden Rule. Instead I explained what it was.
I write this so that we as Christians might take ownership in this demise. This is not something that the school should teach but something that a society has to choose to emphasize. And to take this one step further, not only do we need to teach the words that were shared first with us in the Sermon on the Mount but we need to model them in our lives. Too many Christians today claim that the Golden Rule is how we should live but then exhibit behaviors that are contrary to itโs very teachings
Below is the graphic that I choose for this devotional. The things that are attached to the title are the behaviors that we are called to show in our everyday lives. These are not words we preach to others but must put into action. It is also the action that we should demand of our leaders. Please take a moment today and reflect on how you might better live by this simple rule for which Christ commands his followers to obey.
So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
As I was preparing for this weekโs devotionals my mind went to the Golden Rule. We were all taught this as children. Over my years of teaching, I would frequently use this as an example within the classroom. When I started teaching as soon as I would mention the Golden Rule the students would know immediately what I was referring to. But as the years went on I found myself needing to explain what I was referring to. And by the time that I retired from teaching I quit using the term Golden Rule. Instead I explained what it was.
I write this so that we as Christians might take ownership in this demise. This is not something that the school should teach but something that a society has to choose to emphasize. And to take this one step further, not only do we need to teach the words that were shared first with us in the Sermon on the Mount but we need to model them in our lives. Too many Christians today claim that the Golden Rule is how we should live but then exhibit behaviors that are contrary to itโs very teachings
Below is the graphic that I choose for this devotional. The things that are attached to the title are the behaviors that we are called to show in our everyday lives. These are not words we preach to others but must put into action. It is also the action that we should demand of our leaders. Please take a moment today and reflect on how you might better live by this simple rule for which Christ commands his followers to obey.
