SCRIPTURE:
"For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”"
Galatians 5:6,14
OBSERVATION:
Today I’m challenged to ask myself, do you love God? Yes, more than ever. Am I following his command to “Love my neighbor as myself?” Eh. Jesus reminds me here that that’s the center of the mark, to love Him and to Love His People. They go hand in hand. If I do one I must do the other. Yet for some reason this thought is a challenge for me to put into action.
Here’s what I understand: I get that if my God is loved with all my heart soul and mind, loving people should be easy. I mean come on, if God has my heart my compassion for His people should overflow. If He holds my soul, then my only desire is to love as He loves, and He loves His people. If my mind is consumed by God and filtered by his love than my mind should wandered wander to the dark places it sometimes does. It’s an easy theory for me to understand, much more difficult for me to execute.
APPLICATION:
Even as I readied for this week, my prayers were centered around myself. “God thank you for you grace, thank you for allowing me to be used for Your kingdom. Please keep us safe and healthy.” But as I finished each prayer there was a little emptiness, there was something I was missing. I see now that where I really need the Holy Spirit’s help is in how I love. My prayers should be focused on “Lord help me to love your people with a genuine and growing love.”
That addresses the Love part. But my Soul and Mind needs cleaning too.
Colossians 3 reminds me to “set my mind on things above”. I need to think eternally and not just in the moment. My responses need to be made with an eternal perspective, not just the quick fix for my own peace of mind and happiness, but for peace and happiness period. When my mind and soul are set on Jesus’ love and Jesus’ peace then MY needs take a step back and OUR needs moves up to plate. Even though it may not be or go exactly as I want at the moment, in the long run a team win is much more enjoyable than a personal one. And a happy community is much better than celebrating alone.
So I ask myself again…do I love God? A resounding, Yes. Do I love people? If I have a true and undying devotion to God and his Word and align myself with the Holy Spirit, my heart, mind and soul will be ready to love genuinely.
PRAYER:
Jesus, pure and simple, I love You. Help me to love people too. Amen
