Devotion:
Read Matthew 22:34-40.
Once again the Pharisees were attempting to trip Jesus with a question that religious leaders had been debating for years. What is the greatest commandment? Jesus answered them with what the Jews know as the “Shema” , the confession of faith. The greatest commandment is to love God with all that we are and have - heart, soul, mind, and strength, possessions, and service. To love God is not to “have good feelings about Him,” because true love involves the will as well as the heart. Where there is love, there will be service and obedience.
But Jesus also quoted Leviticus 19:18 putting this commandment on the same level as the Shema, demonstrating that a right relationship with God will impact the relationships with others. If we love God we will love our neighbor and want the best for them. In other words, our purpose as God’s people is to love God and love people!
Personal Worship Option:
Prayer for today: “O LORD, what an amazing opportunity you have given me - a chance to make a difference in a hurting world. Help me to see the needs you want me to see, to react in a way that honors You, and to bless others by serving them gladly with practical expressions of your love. Help me to be Jesus’ hands and feet. Give me the strength and wisdom to fulfill your plan for me. In Jesus’ name, amen”.
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