Love God. Love Your Neighbor.

Week 1: Who Is My Neighbor? Monday

This Week’s Memory Verse

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind”; and, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Luke 10:27 NIV

Psalm

Psalm 86:11-12: Read this passage slowly and let it turn your heart toward God.

Proverbs

Proverbs 3:3-4: Read this verse and consider how God’s wisdom shapes the way you live today.

Today’s Thought

Jesus affirmed a remarkably clear summary of what God desires from us: love God with everything we are, and love our neighbor as ourselves. Those two commands belong together.

Following Jesus is more than what we believe about God; it changes the way we see and treat the people around us. It is possible to say that we love God while becoming so busy, distracted, or comfortable that we overlook the person right in front of us.

The expert in the law immediately asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus answered with a story that changed the question. Instead of helping the man decide who qualified as his neighbor, Jesus showed him what it looks like to BE a neighbor.

This week, remember the simple truth at the heart of this message which is this:

Love the people God has placed around you

Don’t begin by asking, “Who deserves my help?” Begin by asking, “Jesus, help me love the people You have placed around me.”

Pray

“Jesus, I want to love You with all that I am. Let that love change the way I see and love the people around me. Help me become the kind of neighbor You call me to be. Amen.”

Today’s Mercy Step

Before the day ends, identify one person God has placed in your everyday path. Learn something about what is happening in their life, and ask God to show you how to love them well.

Following Jesus by loving the people right in front of us…or next door,

Pastor Mark