20TH SEPTEMBER
Matthew 22:35-40
“And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. ‘Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?’ And he said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.’”
The second most important thing you can do in life is love those around you as yourself!
The first most important thing, Jesus says, is to love God with all that is you. But after this first priority, the thing that matters most to God is your relationship with the people around you.
Love them, God says, and not just a sentimental love. Rather, love them like you love yourself. That is, take care of them. Be concerned for their needs. Care about their feelings. Pray about their struggles. Try to make life better for them.
If someone loved you like that, it would make you sit up and take notice, wouldn’t it? No wonder it matters so much to God that you represent his authentic love for the people around you.
MAKE IT PERSONAL:
What’s ONE thing you can do today to love the people you come into contact with the way God calls you to love them?