Daily Devotional Day & Night

HAPPY TUESDAY!

Today's scriptures are about loving your neighbor. Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ this is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matt. 22:37-39) This was Jesus' answer when asked which was the greatest commandment of all time. Why do you think loving your neighbor as yourself would be a "great commandment"? I believe it's because we are used as vessels for God. How greater is it to show God, who is Love, then by loving everyone without reservations or biases? Loving others could be a very hard thing to do, especially with so much evil in this world. You know the saying, "It's a thin line between love and hate". That's a true statement when it comes to the flesh. People can push you so far where it's very easy to "hate" them, but is that a Godly reaction? What would Jesus have you do? We've read stories about Jesus getting angry at the money changes in the temple, and turning over tables. In those cases, He wasn’t mad at the people, but at their actions. He loves everyone no matter how He was or is hated. He prayed for all nations, and healed all types of people, despite their "religion", or background. He doesn’t judge by the enormity of our sin, or the lack thereof. He said He came to save the lost, and not minister to Himself, what's the point in that? Once we learn the ways of God, and live by them, we're expected to share our wisdom with anyone we could. Genuine Godly love is a love that knows no bounds, and it's a pleasure to have. For me, over the last couple years, His love has transformed my heart. Yes, I have a long way to go, and I still get angry, but I honestly pray for those who wish me harm. I've practically lost any vindictive ways I may have had, and I pity those who attempt to steal someone’s joy. I'm not sure how many of you have reached this point in your Faith walk, but it's the best feeling in the world. At the same time, when you start to compare your views, to the views of the world, you could start to feel like a "pushover" of sorts, and that’s just what the enemy wants. There are also people who are saved, Holy, and Sanctified, but it stops there. Some, who go to church every Sunday, read their bible everyday and could quote scripture as if they've committed the entire book to memory. Yet, they never commit to doing any work to strengthen the Kingdom of God. If you are that type of person, are you truly following the second great commandment to love your neighbor? We must treat people the way we would want to be treated. It’s written: Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness, “You shall not covet,' and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. (Romans 13:8-10) If you're living with evil, hatred, jealously, malice, or selfishness in your heart, then how can you truly love the way Jesus loves? The only ways to overcome these things is by taking on the fruits of the Spirit, and to actively love. Always think before you act and speak, and ask yourself "how would I feel if this was done to me?” If you don't know Jesus as your Savior then you have no idea how to truly love anyone else, because Love, who is Jesus Christ, don't live inside of you. Go to Him in prayer right now and ask Him to come into your heart, and then ask Him to teach you how to love. Wisdom is a free gift by grace. My favorite verses today are: Be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: not rendering evil for evil or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. (1 Peter 3:8-9)

ENJOY! http://www.bible.com/scripture-detail.php?juli=2455181&dtype=Scripture
http://www.intouch.org/site/pp.aspx?c=cnKBIPNuEoG&b=4943197
http://www.intouch.org/site/apps/nl/newsletter.asp?c=cnKBIPNuEoG&b=4943547

I love you!