Devotional - Loving Your Neighbor as Yourself

Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 13:13 - And now there remain: faith [abiding trust in God and His promises], hope [confident expectation of eternal salvation], love [unselfish love for others growing out of God’s love for me], these three [the choicest graces]; but the greatest of these is love

Devotional

Isn't it beautiful that the God of the Universe tells us the greatest commandment He gives us is to love? Our greatest commandment isn't about who prays the longest, wins the most prestigious awards, or logs the most volunteer hours—it goes deeper than external achievements. These things are good, but at the core it should be rooted in the love of Christ. In a world where earthly love often depends on circumstances, emotions, and reciprocation, God calls us to a higher standard. Earthly love often depends on how others make us feel or how fun they are to be around. But these things are temporary and fleeting.

God tells us to love one another unselfishly, as He loves us. This kind of love is not dependent on how others treat us or how we feel in the moment. It is a steadfast, enduring love that reflects God's character. When we love and carry the burdens of one another, we become a light in a broken world, shining God’s love into places of darkness and pain.

As followers of Christ, we are called to rise above the darkness and demonstrate God’s love through our actions and attitudes, even in the face of evil. Our call is to know our authority in Christ and pray for one another, discovering the heart of God.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for abounding love that empowers us to love others, even in a world filled with evil. Please guard our hearts from growing cold. Instead, soften our hearts to show kindness, compassion, and forgiveness to those around us. Guide us to live out the fruit of the Spirit in our daily lives, that our actions may shine as a beacon of Your love and overcome the darkness around us. In Jesus' name, Amen.