Matthew 22:37-39


Jesus replied: “’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all you soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment, and the second is like it: ’Love your neighbour as yourself’” (Matthew 22:37-39)

Love is active, it carries us forward to the object we wish to enjoy, the one we are content with, the one we are completely at rest and our own self with. Love is a preference of one over all others, whether they are present or absent; it is a surrender, which is pleasing. This is the love by which our soul clings to God, for in Him we find our portion. In Him we rest, it is Him we admire, it is from this love we act from Him, and call Him Master and Friend. How we love Him with all our heart, soul and mind is found in our willingness to give up our life for Him, though that may include torment, deprivation, and comfort. The body is used for God’s business and our strength is employed by God for His glory. And our mind is occupied in knowing God and His will through submission and a pleasing attitude. To love our neighbour springs from the love of God as its source. We cannot truly love our neighbour unless we love with the love God has instilled within us. This love of neighbour is the love of equality – it sees no difference in ethnicity, it is charitable to all. What we grant to our neighbour is what we have a right to expect from them, that being the best of what we speak, write, and do. How changed this dark world would be if this was how we all lived! Love Me, says God, and love your fellow person! Be filled with joy in Me, and live in peace among all!
Devotion by Pastor Julia

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