Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
May 20, 2022
Read Matthew 22:34-40
34 When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had left the Sadducees speechless, they met together. 35 One of them, a legal expert, tested him. 36 “Teacher, what is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 He replied, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your being, and with all your mind. 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: You must love your neighbor as you love yourself. 40 All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.”
Good Morning, Love God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.
Who are our neighbors? Remember when we used to spend more time outside especially in the evening. It was a way to sit and relax in the evening before our lives were so consumed with TV and devices. It was also a way to cool down when we didn’t have air conditioning. For many people, this outside time was a daily ritual that was special. It seems in our busy hectic lives that this special time is now relegated to an occasional status when we are celebrating.
I can’t imagine living without our modern technology, but there are times when we seemed to be controlled by it. Perhaps you, too, long for a simpler time on occasion. Have we become too busy to love as Christ taught us? It’s hard to notice the needs of others when we come home and lock ourselves in our homes. There are times that we become so ensconced in the self-survival mode that we walk through our days with blinders on to keep us from seeing what is next to us.
Matthew is reminding us that we are children of God! God sent us Jesus to teach us the “new” way to live. This “new” way is not a fad that will go away after a while. For those who believe in Christ, we must rip off our blinders and actively seek ways to serve God. Who are our neighbors? Anyone in need of the love and grace that God has given to us.
Loving and Gracious God, Thank You for loving us. We struggle with our call to love our neighbors as ourselves. Thank You for giving us Jesus and time to work to become more like Christ in our daily walk. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: Where can I be a good neighbor and sow seeds of peace?
Love God! Love Your Neighbors! Pastor Liz
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