Loving Lord

"And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'"    

--Matthew 22:39  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on February 1, 2013 of Psalm 25:1-11; Matthew 22:15-46; Exodus 9-10:20.

When questioned by the Pharisees as to which is the great commandment, Jesus responded "to love the Lord your God with all your heart", then quoted from Leviticus 19:18, "to love your neighbor as yourself".  Jesus put loving each other second only to loving our heavenly Father as our most important responsibilities.  With His words and His actions and His deeds, He showed us how to love, what love really means.  The true heart of servitude comes from love, for when we truly love someone, we happily serve them.  Jesus wants us to serve others, just as He served, so He wants us to love others, just as He loved.  All of His works on earth - the feedings, the teachings, the healing, the raising from the dead - all these were from love, for love.  Notice He doesn't require us to like everyone or even to associate with everyone, only to love everyone.  If we do love others, we will want only what is best for them, in this life and the next.  Love even those with bad hearts, and pray that God touch and soften them.

God loves us all so much He sent us His only Son, that whoever will believe in Him will not perish forever but have everlasting life with Him.  Jesus loves us so much that He suffered and died for us, took all our sins upon Himself and carried them to the cross and to the grave, leaving them there and washing us clean with His blood.  In return, He only asks us to love each other, truly love them, in our hearts and our deeds.

Merciful Lord, You have given so much to and for us, and ask so little in return - only that we believe in Your Son and love You and love others.  Yet it seems we too often have difficulty fulfilling that last part.  We can never repay You, no matter what we do.  We should be able to love one another, but we fail even at that more times than we'd like to admit.  Please open our eyes to what others may be going through, and open our hearts to love them as You love us.  Thank you, loving Father.  Amen.