LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR

SCRIPTURE

Galatians 6:1-10 (NRSV)
Bear one another's burdens

My friends, if anyone is detected in a transgression, you who have received the Spirit should restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. Take care that you yourselves are not tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. For if those who are nothing think they are something, they deceive themselves. All must test their own work; then that work, rather than their neighbor's work, will become a cause for pride. For all must carry their own loads.

Those who are taught the word must share in all good things with their teacher.

Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow. If you sow to your own flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh; but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life from the Spirit. So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up. So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith.

DEVOTION

Today I am captivated by the verse that says, “Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow.”

In my own life and theology, I have often thought of this spiritual truth as "the boomerang principal.” In other words, whatever you “send out” will come right back to you.

This is a truth that most human beings instinctively comprehend. When I am joyful, people respond with joy. When I am disrespectful, people respond in like fashion. When I am stressed out and frustrated, I make those around me feel the same way. When I am full of the Spirit of God, that same anointing blesses others.

Sometimes it is hard to remain people of the good news, when there is so much bad news around us. It is also hard to be full of the love, joy, and peace of Jesus, when others sometimes work very hard to antagonize, enrage, or poke fun of us.

But, it is at these difficult times in our homes, work places, and neighborhoods that we need to remember Paul’s advice to the church at Galatia. He said, “let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up.”

What wonderful advice! Let us not get tired of doing what we know to be right…Let us not give up on God’s work.

As Christians, we have to great commission to go and tell the entire world that God loves us so much that God gave Jesus to die on the cross to save us from our sin and gift us with eternal life! We get to bring the glad tiding that Jesus did not stay dead, but was resurrected on the third day just like He promised!

It is my greatest joy to be the hands, feet, mouth, and heart of Jesus in the lives of my non-Christian friends, neighbors, acquaintances—and even my enemies!

Although they do not read the Bible, pray, or go to church, they do encounter Jesus every single time I choose to love, do good, and pray for them.

Whether or not my non-Christian friends immediately respond to the good news message with joy, I am determined to allow my little light to shine in the darkness for all the world to see!

Today, we are invited to “work for the good of all people.” Let us take up that work with great joy for Jesus said, “Love your neighbor, as yourself…”


What are you sending out into the atmosphere? Are you ready for it to “boomerang” back on you? Let us pray:

Lord, please make me a good news ambassador of the Kingdom of Love. Please let me sow seeds of love, joy, peace, hope for the future, and an attitude of gratitude! Please help me to send out your Light so that people who are living in darkness can find their way home to you. Thank you for loving us so much that you gave Jesus to die on the cross! Please forgive me of my sin and fill me with the Holy Spirit so that I can bear witness to The Truth: Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ shall come again! I pray this in Jesus’ Name, Amen.






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