Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
April 30, 2023
Matthew 5:43-48
43 “You have heard that it was said, You must love your neighbor and hate your enemy. 44 But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who harass you 45 so that you will be acting as children of your Father who is in heaven. He makes the sun rise on both the evil and the good and sends rain on both the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love only those who love you, what reward do you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing? Don’t even the Gentiles do the same? 48 Therefore, just as your heavenly Father is complete in showing love to everyone, so also you must be complete.
Good Morning, Love one another!
We are called to share the love of God with our neighbors. Our neighbors include everyone. Those we like and those we do not. Sadly, most of us struggle with this commandment. This morning I ask you to consider those you don’t like. We all have someone who annoys us in some way.
Now that you have that person in mind. Please list all the things that this neighbor that you don’t like. I expect to find the more I dislike someone or, the longer that I have disliked them, the longer my list. You might be surprised by how short your list is.
Next, you will focus on the good things about this person. At first, this list might be harder to create. To get started, begin with external things like you like their shoes or their car. Then try to move to deeper things. I pray that this opens your heart and eyes so you may see the goodness in this one you previously disliked.
What if God only focused on the annoying habits or the flaws that we have? Jesus taught us that it is not for us to judge others. 37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Luke 6:37
Whatever our situation, let us focus on that which is good. When you look for the good in others or in a situation, that is what you will see. By the grace of God, we can look past what annoys us and see the beauty and love one another.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. Philippians 4:8
Blessed God, We thank you for Your blessings. You see our beauty even when we have pushed it deep within. Thank You! In the name of Christ, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: With Christ’s strength, I can always respond with love.
Look for the praiseworthy! Pastor Liz
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