ICS Daily Devotions
Love Your Neighbour
Luke 10:27-29 (NKJV) So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbour as yourself.’ ”And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.” But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbour?”
Living in this world means we are susceptible to different forms of stress, pressure, and hard-pressed situations. All of us are familiar with the story of the good Samaritan. Unfortunately, it is hardly the practice in many societies because we are wary of the inconveniences, risks and responsibilities that come with helping someone. Therefore, many of us would rather contribute money than to help and journey with the person.
While asking Jesus how he could inherit eternal life, the lawyer gave the right answer of loving the Lord wholeheartedly and loving his neighbour. This parable came about when he asked Jesus who his neighbour was. Basically, our neighbour is anyone who needs help and whom God has placed among us—we are to love them.
Most of us would rather find out what is in it for us rather than think of what we can do for others and for the Lord, but one must not have a consumer mentality when it comes to being a believer of Jesus Christ. There was a tendency to be self-centred and care only for ourselves before we were saved because sin, being self-centred by nature, will cause us to not think of what God wants or consider others’ feelings and needs. Even though we are not saved by works, we are definitely saved to do good works.
We have been taught by the Lord regarding a new law that would fulfil all the laws. Loving God and loving men is the commandment that sums up the Ten Commandments. It is a selfless and sacrificial kind of love that is enabled by the Holy Spirit working through the new creation. Sin was active in our lives prior to our salvation, but we have been given a heart of flesh instead of a heart of stone. We love because God first loved us. Therefore, it will be the agape love that flows out of our hearts, which is unconditional and selfless because the source of this kind of love is God. People will know that we are disciples of Jesus Christ by the fruit of the Holy Spirit expressed through our daily living, and this is especially true when we love others as much as we love ourselves.
All of us need love to be expressed to us in words and action whether in good or bad times, and it really doesn’t cost us anything just to be kind with our words in order to encourage someone who is down. A word and a simple gesture can do wonders to a person’s soul.
Sermon Series: Help! Go and Do Likewise
