This morning as I woke up and did my daily devotional, the reading just so happened to be from the Gospel of Mark. I think some of you may be familiar with it:

“One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him,

“Which is the first of all the commandments?”

Jesus replied, “The first is this:

Hear, O Israel!

The Lord our God is Lord alone!

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,

with all your soul, with all your mind,

and with all your strength.

The second is this:

You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

There is no other commandment greater than these.”

The scribe said to him, “Well said, teacher.”

Mark 12:28-34 (NAB)

I have read this passage several times through out my life, but that second commandment Jesus points out has taken on a whole new meaning for me.  

“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Loving your neighbor (friend, sister, brother, uncle, co-worker, acquaintance, enemy) is not always the easiest thing.  It takes a lot of patience and grace from God, but when we love our neighbor it is a beautiful reflection of our father’s love.  Expressing love to our neighbor can be seen in noticing the grass that needs to be mowed in Sarah’s yard next door, starting a conversation with Ed our co-worker, or forgiving Sam for lying to us. 

Striving to love our neighbors through daily interactions can change lives.  Let’s connect, and let God use us in the way he sees fit.

 How is He challenging you today?

Holly Durkee, PR intern