"I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen." (Luther's Morning Prayer)
Friday, September 27, 2024 - Day 271 (Through the Bible in a year readings for today: Isaiah 10-12; Galatians 5)
LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR
“For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Galatians 5:13-14 ESV)
We who have been freed from the consequences of our sins by means of Christ’s forgiveness are called to love our neighbors by serving them. What would this kind of other-focused service look like? Paul answers that question a few verses later.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23 ESV)
I believe that the love of Christ, and only the love of Christ, is the answer to all of the name calling and outright hatred we are bombarded with every day in the news and social media by people of all stripes. As followers of Jesus Christ, you and are I are in a unique position whereby the Lord can use us to change things one person at a time. We get to do this by reflecting these Jesus traits...
● love
● joy
● peace
● patience
● kindness
● goodness
● faithfulness
● gentleness and
● self-control!
WE’RE ALL HUMAN. WE’RE ALL BROKEN. WE ALL NEED JESUS and His LOVE!
1. Love in Christ is strong and living, Binding faithful hearts in one;
Love in Christ is true and giving, May His will in us be done.
2. Love is patient and forbearing, Clothed in Christ’s humility,
Gentle, selfless, kind, and caring, Reaching out in charity.
3. Love in Christ abides forever, Fainting not when ills attend;
Love, forgiving and forgiven, Shall endure until life’s end.
(Lutheran Service Book #706)
Heavenly Father, please have mercy on our hate-filled world. Please use those who bear Your name to reach out to our neighbors in our communities, nation and around the world with the life-changing and soul-saving love of Jesus Christ. In His holy name. Amen.
Pastor David Paape
Daily Bible Reading Chart covering the entire Bible in one year.
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