FULFILLED BY LOVE
Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law. For the commandments say, “You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.” These—and other such commandments— are summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law.
Romans 13:8-10 (NLT)
Love your neighbor as yourself. Such a simple thing to say, but at times, a difficult thing to do. Yet, it’s an incredibly important part of what Jesus has called us to. He was once asked what the greatest commandment in the law was. Jesus answered by saying the following in Matthew 22:37-40 (NLT): Jesus replied, “‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.' The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”
Jesus is saying that we must love God and love people. It’s a foundational principle, not just here at Brookwood, where we have it in most of our logos, but for all believers. And don’t miss that He calls us to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. I must confess—I’m very good at loving myself. I make my wants, needs and desires a priority quite easily. To intentionally love someone by prioritizing their wants, needs and desires ahead of my own? That’s a lot tougher. But that’s exactly what Jesus did.
Consider what Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane (see Matthew 26:36-46). He begged the Father for any other way to accomplish the mission of redemption. He asked that the cup He was about to drink be taken from Him. But He ultimately was wholly surrendered to the path before Him—sacrificing Himself for others. If our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ could love others by sacrificing His life, how can we do anything less than sacrifice ourselves to love our neighbor well?
APPLICATION: How can you love your neighbor as yourself this week? Is there a task you could accomplish for them? Is there a decision you could yield to them? Is there a chance for you to demonstrate empathy through active listening? Is there some other random act of kindness that you could consider? Ask God to guide you!
PRAYER: Father, thank You for the love You demonstrated in Your Son Jesus. Help me to love like He did—sacrificially. Show me how I can love my neighbor as I love myself today. In Jesus’ name, amen.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?