The Upper Room Devotion for Thursday, May 30, 2024, was written by Jean Bonin of Alberta, Canada.
Scripture
34 When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, 35 and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. 36 “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” 37 He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the greatest and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
Matthew 22:34-40 NRSV
Author's Thoughts
When I became a Christian, I was excited and wanted to please God. I thought the only way I could please God was by doing, so I became a super volunteer in my church and community. Unfortunately, as I overcommitted myself to acts of service, I became less enthusiastic. I wore myself out and started feeling like a failure as a Christian.
It has been a long time since those early days when I was learning how to grow and share my faith. I am still excited about my love for God, and I still eagerly look for opportunities to share that love with others. However, I have learned that it's not simply an act of service that pleases the Lord, but also how we do the act of service. To please God, I do not need to overcommit myself to work that I can't do wholeheartedly - but I do have to commit myself to the Lord.
In Matthew 22:37-39, Jesus reiterated Micah's words when he spoke of the importance of loving the Lord and loving our neighbor. Every life experience is an opportunity to humbly exalt God as we do justice and love others with kindness and mercy.
Thought for the Day
Is my commitment to work greater than my commitment to God?
Author's Prayer
Gracious Lord, guide us to live with justice and kindness. Help us to love our neighbors and ourselves as we humbly acknowledge that you are God. Amen.
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