Law of Love

Verse of the Day: 

Matthew 22:33-40

34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested with this question: 36 "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37 Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 All the Law and the Prophets hand on these two commandments."

Encouragement:

Please be honest in your prayers. Lol, please.

Lord, teach me to practice the law of love. I think I can become self-righteous by thinking, "Okay, I don't steal or I have not murdered anyone." However, being self-righteous is a sin in itself. Also, not indulging in those sins does not take away from the fact that I indulge in being prideful, unforgiven, or taking my anger out on anyone. Most importantly, I fail to practice the law of love. My love unlike yours is very conditional. Does the person do something I do not like? Are they aggravating? What have they done for me? These thoughts are very unholy and upsetting. Lord, let me love everyone regardless of actions, status, etc. You love me, the true me. Therefore, I should love everyone unconditionally. Lord, let me not only love my neighbors as myself but love like you.

Also, God, I want to address verse 37, " ... 'Love the Lord your God will all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'" I know I addressed the second commandment before the greatest commandment, lol. But, Lord teach me to practice this verse. When I do not love you with everything in me, I place other things before you. I make those other things my idol. A lot of us do not understand when we are practicing idolatry. I have heard several sermons where preachers talk about how we idolize people, careers, and money. We do not see ourselves exercising idolatry because it is not a statue or another God we idolize. This has been a harsh reality for me. It actually saddens me because I know what you have for me, God and that you deserve all of my praise. I know I cannot love you more than you love me, but I know you deserve more coming from me. Please be with my heart, God. Thank you.