Friday, March 24th
Devotional written by Rrachel Fitzpatrick, Local Outreach Director
WHICH SIDE DO YOU WANT TO BE ON?
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a
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Love is a verb, and Jesus tells us that the greatest commandment is to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and the second is to love our neighbors as ourselves. Love is a choice!
The Great Commission is an outworking of this second commandment. When we make disciples of all nations, we love our neighbors by sharing the life-giving message of the Gospel with them. But we are also called to love people more practically: helping them when in need, listening to their problems, and showing them kindness, compassion, and respect. Let’s ensure our love for our neighbors is at the forefront of our evangelism efforts.
Author Rich Villodas says, “If the greatest commandment in Scripture is rooted in love, the greatest sin – or the very essence of it – must be a failure to love. Jesus said the greatest commandment is to love God with our heart, soul, mind, and strength – and to love our neighbor as ourselves. If this is the greatest commandment, the failure to love becomes the gravest sin. When seen in this light, the task of resisting the power of sin is not found in moral scrupulosity, but in Spirit-empowered love for God and neighbor.”
Reflection: What choices are you willing to make in “love” today?
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