Saturday, January 31, 2026

Opening Scripture

“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 7:12

Opening Prayer

The love of God is greater far than tongue or pen can ever tell. It goes beyond the highest star and reaches to the lowest hell. The guilty pair, bowed down with care, God gave His Son to win; His erring child He reconciled and pardoned from his sin. O love of God, how rich and pure! How measureless and strong! It shall forevermore endure—the saints’ and angels’ song. Amen.

Daily Bible Reading

Matthew 22:34-40

Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Reflection  

Today we wrap up this week’s attention to “purposeful living” by revisiting Jesus’ “Great Commandment” with a focus on Part 2: Love People. Our journey through 1 John the previous week laid a firm foundation for our consideration of this command.

The Apostle John – perhaps more than any other contributor to Scripture – emphasizes the essential, non-negotiable presence of love in the life of a follower of Jesus. Over and over, he references and expounds on Jesus’ instruction in John 13:34-35, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Jesus’ “new command” is based on – and an expression of – the New Covenant. The old is passing away. Behold, all things are becoming new!

As we flourish together, being transformed on The Jesus Way, we begin to truly understand what God’s love is all about. Increasingly, we are changed personally by His love and we exhibit that love more naturally to others. God’s love is the defining characteristic of His people.

1 Corinthians 13:1-3 essentially lays out this formula: Life – Love = Nothing. More specifically for us, impressive religious activities performed without love are a complete waste of time. That lets us know how important love is to God.

Flourishing Habit

Close Social Relationships

Christians are constantly having to redefine for our world what true love (God’s love) really is. The best way for us to do that is to demonstrate it by the way we live.

A sacrificial commitment to the well-being of another person unto Christlikeness is a foreign concept in our society. That’s what makes it so powerful!

In his book, The Five Love Languages, Gary Chapman identifies these ways that people can express and receive love:

• words of affirmation
• quality time
• sharing gifts
• acts of service
• physical touch

Meaningful expressions of love don’t have to be grand gestures. Simple acts of thoughtfulness and kindness go a long way. For instance, each week (or more often) send two (or more) texts (or cards) to people you care about and/or pray for and/or haven’t seen in a while. Small action is better than big intention.

“Not every love, but only that which has a noble purpose, is noble and worthy of praise.” Plato

Remember: Nothing changes until something changes!