TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL PASSAGE

DEVOTIONAL

by Elder Chris Beltran

We know this commandment by memory. But do we know it by heart? What does it really mean? Are we, as His followers, actually loving others as ourselves? The standard for “loving others” should be how “we love ourselves.” But it is easier said than done. We are too into ourselves, our work, our family, our time, our resources, and our wants that, in reality, we find it hard to get along with others, let alone to love them. So how do we love others as ourselves?

A. Knowing and experiencing God’s love.  

His love is unconditional, perfect, and unlimited that even while we are sinners and rebels, He still loves us to the point when He sends His Son to die on the cross for us. That is the highest form of love. We can only love others as ourselves when we have a deep and intimate relationship with Him. Like when we spend time with Him and when we put everything that we have read and meditate on His word, everything that we have received, ​​we are to put it into practice.

B. Forgive as the Lord forgave us. 

   Ephesians 4:32 states, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ, God forgave you.” How did God forgive us? Unconditionally. How can we not forgive if we have truly experienced His forgiveness? Love keeps no record of wrongs as it leaves the hurts, bitterness, the wrongdoings of others at the cross and lets them go. Forgiveness is very hard, but true forgiveness can only happen through His power. Learning to forgive others can heal a person emotionally, physically, psychologically, and spiritually if we learn to let go and let Him take control.

C. Accepting others as you want to be accepted. 

Loving others as ourselves means we are to accept them the way God has accepted us. We are able to empathize with them. All people have equal worth. There should be no racism, no favoritism, or no looking down on others. Often, we are attracted to people with wealth, power, and position. Why? To have benefits, to feel good and secure. However, we are reminded in Galatians 3:28 that “there is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” In Christ, everyone has equal worth. If the Lord has accepted us for what we are, then we are to accept others as we want to be accepted. 

REFLECTION

Let us again reflect on this passage and this devotional. Have I truly loved others as myself? Have I forgiven others as God forgave me? Have I accepted others as I want to be accepted? And the most important question of all, have I truly experienced God’s love for me, not just reading and knowing about it, but truly experiencing it? We cannot give if we do not have. Make sure that today is the day that you truly encounter the Lord and experience His love, forgiveness, and acceptance of us. Only then will we be able to love others as ourselves.

PRAYER

Lord, I am opening my heart to You today. I may have religion in my life for so long, but I may not have a real relationship with You, Lord. I am repenting of my sins, and I truly want to experience Your love, Your forgiveness, and Your acceptance. Only when I truly experience these will I be able to love others unconditionally. Make my encounter with you be so real that obeying Your commandment to love others as ourselves will no longer be a burden but a joy. This is difficult, but we can do all things in Christ, who strengthens me. And this includes loving others as ourselves. In Jesus’ name, Amen.