Devotion 07 September 2026
Whatever other commandments there may be, are summed up in this one rule: “Love your neighbour as yourself.” Love does no harm to its neighbour. Therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law. Romans 13: 9d-10
READING: 1 John 4: 9-11, 16b, John 13: 34-35, Romans 8: 38-39
John, the Apostle puts our love into proper perspective. We love others because God first loved and still loves us. He sets out the optimal example. He says “God is love and whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him or her. (1 John 4 : 16b). Jesus summarizes the commandments of Moses’ law as, “You shall love your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. And the second is like it: you shall love your neighbour as yourself.” (Matthew 22 : 37 – 40) One’s neighbour is not just one’s family or friends but those in a wider circle of persons within one’s community, one’s nation. It may be easier to support people in one’s own community for example: through our Churches outreach or local food banks. We should also support with our love organizations such the Gift of the givers, or Doctors without borders. Jesus said that to love God is only fulfilled through our love for our neighbour. If the God we so dearly love is the God who, “So loved the world” (John 3 : 16) This means we if we love the God who, “so love the world,” then we must view the world through the lens of God, and love the world. Jesus says that the way we love one another, will enable all men to know that we are God’s disciples. (John 13 : 34 – 35) Paul says to the Romans that Nothing can separate us from the love of God, through His Son, Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8 : 38 – 39) Love is the order of everything!
Prayer
Loving Lord Jesus we pray for a loving spirit that is kind and generous in its judgements, warm in its appreciation and sensitive to the needs of others. Give us a loving spirit to care for those we are called to love. Through our love for others may people be drawn to love and praise You and come to know Your Love. We pray this through Your glorious Name. Amen
