January 24 - Love Your Neighbor

Happy Thursday. I just read an article about positive and negative thoughts and how those affect our DNA. There is evidence to support that hearing and thinking negative reduces our overall wellness. Conversely? Thinking and hearing positive contributes to our wellness. It seems as if we think or hear lots of things that are negative or cause increased stress, we are much more likely to weaken parts of our chromosomes and make ourselves less healthy. Likewise, if we hear and think positive things, it strengthens our chromosomes. I immediately thought of Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” 

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We’ve all known that cancer patients with a positive attitude have a much greater chance of beating cancer. But I think there is a bigger application for the Christian. We have been called to love God and love people and to make disciples. How we treat those we are called to love effects them emotionally, spiritually and now we know physically. It’s a big responsibility for us. Every person we encounter, whether it’s someone driving poorly or someone who mistreats you, we are called to love and how we respond has an effect—on them, and on us as well. 


“Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” Matthew‬ ‭22:37-39‬ ‭NKJV‬‬


With all your heart, soul and mind we are to love God. And if we are really trying to put that into our everyday lives, we will treat our neighbors with the kind of love that is only possible if we are Spirit led. 


Jesus, you tell us in your word that we are your friends because you have shared everything with us. We want to love you with every part of ourselves and we want to reflect you and share your love with everyone we encounter today. Help us Lord to put our selfishness aside and to truly put you first place. We are works in progress and know that we often fail, but we stand on the promise that we are continually being conformed to look more like you. We worship you though our life and we ask for your presence to be real to us. Pour your life into us so we may show and share more of you. Thank you for your great grace and amazing love. Amen and amen.  


Love you dear friend, 

Pam

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