THE GIFT OF EMPATHY

February 4, 2026

John 8:1-11 New Living Translation

1Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives, 2but early the next morning he was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon gathered, and he sat down and taught them. 3As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd. 4“Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?” 6They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. 7They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” 8Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust. 9When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. 10Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” 11“No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”

Most of us are familiar with the word sympathy. At its simplest, sympathy means sharing in someone else’s sadness or pain—usually because we’ve been through something similar ourselves. Empathy, though closely related, is a little different. Empathy is the ability to understand and step into another person’s feelings even when we haven’t lived their experience.

Sympathy often comes naturally when we can say, “I’ve been there.” Empathy, on the other hand, usually requires more effort. It doesn’t always come easily, and not everyone has learned how to practice it well. But if we hope to live faithfully in relationships—especially with people we don’t always agree with—then empathy is a skill worth cultivating.

One of the clearest ways we show empathy is by truly listening. When we listen well, we communicate love and respect. We begin to understand not just what people believe, but why they believe it. In these moments, the goal isn’t to win an argument or prove a point, but to value the person in front of us.

I’ve found that learning someone’s story often changes the way I see them. It slows my tendency to judge too quickly. Most people arrive at their beliefs and convictions through a lifetime of experiences—some life-giving, others deeply painful. When we take even a few moments to step into someone else’s world, judgment often gives way to understanding.

Today’s Gospel reading places law and love side by side. The crowd that brought the woman to Jesus came armed with the law—harsh, heavy-handed, and without mercy. They were quick to condemn, and noticeably silent about the man involved. “The law of Moses says stone her,” they insisted.

Jesus responds not by ignoring the law, but by exposing how it’s being interpreted and applied. With compassion and truth, Jesus challenges the women's accusers: “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone.” One by one, they walk away. And when Jesus speaks to the woman, his words are not condemnation, but grace and challenge: “Go, and sin no more.”

Empathy lies at the heart of healthy relationships. It helps us see people as more than their mistakes, understand perspectives different from our own, and, most importantly, reflect Jesus in the way we live and love one another.

Let's Pray


Lord, give me the wisdom to notice the good in everyone I meet. Bless me with empathy to understand their life circumstances and respect them enough to offer caring support, sharing God’s love with kindness. Help me see the moments where I can stand beside others, as a true friend. Amen.

OPEN HEARTS

 February 3, 2026

PROVERBS 4:23

“Keep your heart with all vigilance,

for from it flow the springs of life.”

To experience the full and abundant life God desires for us, we are invited to live with open hearts. That’s not always easy. Many of us carry real wounds, hurts from our past, disappointments, losses, that teach us to protect ourselves. Without even realizing it, we can begin to move through life with our hearts guarded, surrounded by emotional walls. That response is understandable. But if we’re not careful, those same walls meant to protect us can also keep us from noticing God’s gentle presence among us.

God is always calling us deeper. He longs for us to know the richness of the abundant life He promises. He invites us into a relationship marked by openness and trust, a place that is safe, uncluttered, and honest. It’s there, in that vulnerable space, that we discover the blessings of an open heart: life, hope, peace, and joy.

Scripture reminds us in Proverbs 4:23, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Life flows from the heart, both physically and spiritually. Just as the heart pumps blood throughout the body, our inner life shapes everything we think, say, and do. In the Bible, the “heart” often refers to the very center of who we are, our thoughts, emotions, and moral choices. It is the place where God continually speaks, inviting us to listen. What I have learned is that God desires to meet you not on the surface of your life, but at its very core.

Jesus echoes this invitation in John 15:4 when He says, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me.” You see, God longs to be close to you, to guide you, speak to you, pour out His love upon you, and remain with you day by day, moment by moment. 

So today, let us take time to open our hearts before our loving God. Let us ask Him to gently reveal any walls we have built, any places where fear or hurt has closed us off. And as we do, may we experience the newness, healing, and life that only God can give.

Let's Pray

Gracious God,
Gently show us where we have built walls,
and meet us there with Your love and healing.
Help us to abide in You each day.

Amen.

Centered on What?

 February 2, 2026

JEREMIAH 24:7


“I will give them a heart to know that I am the Lord, and they shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart.”


We were created for a relationship with our Creator, to know Him and be known by Him. This truth shapes who we are and how we live, influencing our thoughts, feelings, and actions. It’s the foundation for every part of our lives.

I think we can all admit that at some point, we’ve placed the wrong things at the center of our lives. I know I have. When my focus has been on self-centered pursuits, like chasing success, seeking others’ approval, or tying my identity to my work, I’ve ended up with nothing but disappointment, burnout, and unmet desires. Definitely not the best results. Certainly not what I hoped for.

God says to each of us in the Bible that there is another way. God says that we can stop this self-centered pursuit and start enjoying life centered on intimacy with our Creator. Jeremiah 24:7 says, “I will give them a heart to know that I am the Lord, and they shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart.” I believe, we were created to live out of the powerful knowledge that God is real, knowable, loves us, and is closer to us than we think.

What  WE need to be reminded of today, is that

We were made to live with the knowledge of God’s love in every life moment,

We were made to taste and see that our God is good.

We were made to live in communion with our Creator, that every moment would be filled with the abundance of his presence.

We were made to know that God has life for us. God has abundant love for us. God desires the best for us. 

Today, let’s focus our lives on our relationship with our Creator, grounding ourselves in His constant love and faithfulness. I truly believe that when we take this step, our lives will be forever transformed as we fix our eyes on the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).

Let's Pray

God, give us a heart that knows You, trusts You, and delights in You. Let Your Spirit shape our thoughts, our desires, and our steps. Help us live today rooted in Your faithfulness, grounded in Your goodness, and centered on relationship with You.

As we set our eyes on Jesus, fill us with the life You’ve always wanted for us. We offer You our whole hearts.

Amen.

Snow and the Rhythm of Rest

 January 30, 2026

Psalm 147:16

“He gives snow like wool; He scatters frost like ashes.” 

After that little storm last weekend, we have been reflecting this week on "snow" in the Bible. It seems fitting to conclude the week and head into the weekend thinking about snow and the rhythm of rest. We noted at several points this week that snow slows the world down. Roads get quiet, fields receive a covering of white, and the usual hustle and bustle of our lives, becomes muffled under a soft white blanket of snow. 

Psalm 147 invites us to read verse 16 slowly so that we can catch the idea that snow is not a mere inconvenience but a deliberate gift: snow is like wool, a protective, insulating layer placed over the earth.

Our constant motion often wears away at us physically, mentally, and spiritually. However, rest has a restorative power. It shifts our perspective, builds strength, grows faith, connects us to our creator.

This is a truth we witness throughout the scriptures, not just in our verse today.

Isaiah 55:10–11   God’s word works in seasons; rain and snow accomplish what He intends. 

Psalm 46:10   “Be still, and know that I am God.” Stillness is a spiritual posture. 

Mark 6:31    Jesus invites the disciples to rest after ministry: rest is part of faithful life. Ecclesiastes 3:1–4    There is a season for every purpose, including a season of quiet and waiting. 

Matthew 11:28–30   Jesus offers rest to the weary; rest is an invitation, not a reward.

 After loss, a parent found that the first winter after her child's death, she needed permission to be still. She said that some of her Friends that expected a quick recovery were surprised that grief was hanging on; yet other family and friends who allowed her space for silence and presence helped this grieving parent find a slow, steady way back to life. This mom wrote: "The winter of grief did not erase hope; it sheltered it until new shoots could emerge."

I wonder where might you need the restorative power of rest in your life to shift  perspective, build strength, grow faith, and connect you to our creator?

I came across the following suggestions that might be helpful for us to experience the power of rest.

Create a rhythm: Build weekly and seasonal rhythms that include deliberate rest, Sabbath hours, quiet mornings, or periodic retreats.

Protect margins: Reduce commitments for a season; say no to nonessential tasks so you can say yes to restoration.

Practice small stillnesses: Five minutes of silence, a short walk without devices, or a single unhurried meal can train you to receive rest.

Journal the winter: Record what the season is teaching you, what’s being preserved, what’s being pruned, and what you hope will grow next.

Ask for help: Let trusted friends or mentors know you’re in a slow season so they can support and not pressure you.

Let's Pray

Lord, teach me Your rhythm of rest. Help me receive seasons of slowing as Your provision and not a sign of weakness or failure. Give me patience in the waiting, wisdom to embrace the quiet, and courage to guard the spaces where You restore me. Thank You for the promise that winter is never the end of the story. Amen.

Snow a Symbol of RENEWAL

 January 29, 2026

Isaiah 55:10–11

“As the rain and the snow come down from heaven… so is my word.”

I believe Snow is one of nature’s quiet wonders, perhaps you noticed last Sunday how the snow was just drifting down without fuss and covering everything. At first, snow might seem like a inconvenience, or the cause of an unwanted pause, but beneath that frozen layer, something quietly beautiful is taking place when you think about it.

Unlike rain, which races across the ground, snow hangs around and takes its time. It melts gradually, releasing water at a rate the soil can soak up. Farmers rely on this steady watering to prepare the land for spring. Snow isn’t wasted water; it’s God's perfect gift.

God says His Word works the same way.

Isaiah 55 paints a picture of God's timing. Just as snow accomplishes its purpose long before the first green shoot appears, God’s Word is at work long before we see evidence of change and new life. Someone has described it this way,

• When you read Scripture and feel nothing — the snow is falling.

• When you pray and wonder if anything is happening — the snow is settling.

• When you obey God in small, unseen ways — the snow is melting into the soil of your soul.

Jesus described the kingdom of God as seed growing “night and day, whether the farmer sleeps or gets up” (Mark 4:26–27). Growth is happening even when we cannot measure it.

In winter, everything seems still, but it’s a season of preparation. Roots dig deeper, the soil takes its rest, and moisture collects. Quietly, life is getting ready to bloom again.

You see, God often works behind the scenes during the hidden seasons of our lives. When things feel cold or unproductive, I have found that in those times God is shaping us for something we can’t yet fully imagine.

We see this in the story of Joseph in prison when in Egypt, or Moses in the wilderness, or David tending sheep. Their so called “winter seasons” were not wasted. They were being shaped for new life, for spring.

Let's Pray

God, let Your Word fall on my life, steady, gentle, and full of purpose. Help me trust that even when I cannot see You working, that You are nourishing me deep in my heart and spirit. Prepare me for the renewal You are bringing into my life right now. Amen.

Snow as a Sign of God’s Sovereignty

January 28, 2026

 

Job 38:22

“Have you entered the storehouses of the snow…?” 

When God speaks to Job out of the whirlwind, He draws Job’s attention to the snow as something beautiful, powerful, and beyond human control.  In the ancient world,  snowstorms were awe‑inspiring events. They arrived suddenly, reshaped the landscape, halted travel, and reminded people that creation does not answer to human timetables. 

God’s question in our verse today is not a rebuke; it is an invitation to a important way of seeing the world.  It is as if God says: “You do not command the snow, but I do. You do not control the seasons, but I hold them in My hands. You are limited, but you are not abandoned.”

This week our devotions are helping us discover that throughout Scripture, snow is a rather important image that helps us gain a fuller understanding of who God is. We learn that in the Bible snow becomes a symbol of God’s sovereignty and His ability to work beyond human understanding:

Snow reveals God’s power: “He gives snow like wool; He scatters frost like ashes.”  Psalm 147:16.  The psalmist sees snow not as random weather but as something God “gives” and “scatters,”  across the earth.

We saw that snow reflects God’s purity and transforming grace: “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” Isaiah 1:18 The same God who commands the snow also renews hearts.

Snow reminds us of God’s faithful rhythms: “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven… so is My word that goes out from My mouth.”  Isaiah 55:10–11. Just as snow nourishes the earth in hidden ways, God’s Word accomplishes His purposes even when we cannot see it. We will look at this more closely on another day.

Think of a winter storm that forces everything to pause, schools close, roads empty, plans shift. No amount of human planning can stop the flakes from falling. Yet beneath that stillness, the earth is being watered, insulated, and prepared for spring.

In a similar way, there are seasons in life when God slows our pace, disrupts our plans, or guides us to unexpected places. Though we may feel powerless in those moments, we are never without purpose. The same God who commands the storehouses of snow also oversees every detail of our lives.

I have started to learn this week something I never really thought about before. Snow in the Bible and as we experience it over the winter season becomes a quiet sermon for us. That sermon says "You are not in control, but you are deeply cared for by the One who is."

Thanks be to God!!

Let's Pray

Bring to God a situation that feels out of your hands, and let it go into His care, trusting the One who shapes the snow, guides the seasons, and oversees every hidden part of creation.

Lord, You know the situation I cannot control. I place it in Your hands. As You command the snow and guide the seasons, guide this part of my life too. Give me peace as I trust Your care.

Amen.

From Scarlet to Snow

 January 27, 2026

Isaiah 1:18

Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.



Isaiah’s words we just read, reveal a profound life changing truth: it is God who performs the cleansing. The transformation from scarlet to snow-white is not achieved through discipline, willpower, or spiritual effort. It is the work of God, who approaches us with mercy powerful enough to change what we are unable to restore.

Snow becomes a vivid picture of God's grace. When snow falls, it blankets everything, the muddy paths, the barren looking fields, the broken ground and suddenly the landscape is renewed. What was messy is made beautiful; what was exposed is gently covered. Scripture gives us this same image when God says, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow” (Isaiah 1:18). Snow does not deny what was there before; it transforms how it is seen. Snow reveals what the land can become.

In the same way, God’s forgiveness does not pretend our sin never existed. Like the prayer of Psalm 51, it cleanses and renews the heart, creating room for a “clean heart” and a “steadfast spirit.” Where guilt and shame once lived, God brings restoration, and new life begins to grow.

This promise for us today from Isaiah, is deeply personal. You see, God is not offering a quick fix or a surface-level touch-up, a white wash of those scarlet things. He is offering renewal, a cleansing that reaches the places we hide, the wounds we carry, and the patterns we cannot break on our own. His grace is thorough, tender, and transformative. God's grace washes white.

I believe the imagery of snow deepens our understanding of God’s renewing work. The change from scarlet to white reflects the full depth of His forgiveness, revealing how completely God washes away what once felt impossible to remove on our own. The stillness of falling snow reflects how God often works in quiet, gentle ways, inviting us to slow down and receive His grace without effort. As snow transforms the landscape into something fresh and bright, it serves as a spiritual symbol of the new beginnings God offers, not by erasing the past, but by redeeming it and bringing beauty from what was once broken and separated us for God and others.

Living the promise of today's verse means embracing God’s pledge and commitment of forgiveness. It begins with pausing long enough to let God reveal the places in our hearts that need His cleansing. From there, we are invited to confess honestly, bringing our failures, fears, and hidden struggles into the light of the One who already knows them fully. We then move forward, accepting His grace openly, letting His forgiveness reshape who we are and to guide our next steps. Obedient steps that reflect the new work God is doing within us. And one last point, an extremely important point, the forgiveness we receive becomes forgiveness we extend, offering mercy to others with the same generosity God has shown to us.

Let's Pray

Loving God, search me with Your kindness. Reveal the places in me that need Your cleansing. I bring my sin, my struggles, and my hidden burdens to You. Wash me, renew me, and make me whole. Let Your forgiveness settle over my life like fresh snow, quiet, pure, and transforming. Shape my steps so that I walk in the freedom You give, and help me extend that same mercy to others. Amen.

White as Snow

 January 26, 2026

Matthew 28:3

 “His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow.” 

Fresh snow has a way of stopping us for a moment. Maybe that happened for you yesterday. You look out, and everything feels quieter, brighter, clean, untouched. It’s interesting that the Bible uses snow to help us understand something about God’s holiness. Not because God is cold or far away, but because God’s purity is so clear and so radiant that it stands out from everything else around it.

At its core, holiness means “set apart,” but not in the sense of distant or untouchable. In the Bible, God is holy because God is wholly other, pure, faithful, life-giving, and unlike anything corrupted or broken. God’s holiness is the radiant goodness of who God is, that calls us into a deeper life.

Our verse above is a resurrection text. At the empty tomb, the angel appeared, blazing like lightning and dressed in clothes as white as snow, signaling that something profoundly holy had entered the world. We find that this holiness doesn’t hide; it moves into action. It rolls stones aside. It speaks peace into fear. It proclaims resurrection.

I believe the Bible shows us that God’s holiness isn’t meant to push us away but to draw us into life. The same God whose glory sparkles like fresh snow is the one who stepped into death and broke it from within. His holiness isn’t fragile, it’s strong, welcoming, and full of life. When we come face-to-face with the Holiness of God, we’re not crushed or destroyed; we are awakened.

In the Gospels, holiness takes on flesh. In Jesus, God’s holiness no longer "stays behind curtains" it moves toward people. Jesus touches lepers. He eats with tax collectors and sinners. He forgives the repentant and shame-filled.

And here’s the stunning thing: instead of Jesus becoming unclean, the unclean are made whole. That tells us something profound about holiness. God’s holiness is not threatened by brokenness. It overcomes it. In Jesus, holiness doesn’t push people away, it pulls them back into life.

Let's Pray

Holy God, renew in us a sense of wonder at who You are. Let the radiance of Your presence warm our spirits and soften the places where fear has taken hold. Melt what keeps us distant. Remind us that Your holiness is not meant to intimidate us, but to draw us into deeper, fuller life with You. Amen.

No GREATER Love

No GREATER Love

 January 23, 2026

On the night before the cross, Jesus spoke words that still carry weight today. He knew His time with the disciples was short. They were anxious, confused, and unsure of what was coming next. In that moment, Jesus didn’t offer a detailed plan or a set of instructions for survival. He gave them one clear command:

John 15:12–13

“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”


Jesus defines love not by the intensity of our feelings, how loving we feel,  but by the willingness to give. This love is not dictated by mood or availability. It is a love that actually requires sacrifice, a love that reaches out to others even when it is difficult or uncomfortable.

When Jesus says, “as I have loved you,” He invites us to look closely at His own life at the example he has revealed:

He loved people who misunderstood Him.
He served people who could never repay Him.
He forgave people who betrayed and wounded Him.
He gave His life for people who had not yet chosen Him.

Jesus is talking about sacrificial love in our verses today. Sacrificial love is measured not by emotion, but by surrender. We see this in Jesus' example in the way he lived. Sacrificial love means less focus on ourselves and our wants and needs. It is the profound decision to embrace inconvenience, endure discomfort, and even face a measure of pain so that another person can experience life, healing, or hope. We see that in Jesus' loving actions, don't we? 

There are many snapshots of the Costly Love, this sacrificial love in the Bible. Scripture repeatedly shows us that true love always involves sacrifice. Think of these examples:

Ruth and Naomi (Ruth 1–4): Ruth releases her past, her security, and her future plans to remain faithful to Naomi. Her words, “Where you go, I will go”, reflect a love that stays, even when it costs.

Jonathan and David (1 Samuel 18–20): Jonathan gives up his claim to the throne to protect his friend. He chooses faithfulness over ambition.

The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25–37): The Samaritan interrupts his journey, spends his resources, and risks involvement to care for a wounded stranger.

Jesus Christ (Philippians 2:5–8): The clearest picture of all, Jesus empties Himself, takes on human flesh, and becomes obedient to death on a cross. 

Every expression of genuine love in Scripture ultimately points us to the way of Jesus.

I remember being told a story about a brutal winter storm, a hospital lost power. Roads were impassable. Staff members were stranded. One nurse, already exhausted after a long 12 hour shift, was preparing to leave. Then she saw frightened patients, anxious families, and the growing uncertainty.

She quietly hung her coat back on the hook and said, “I’ll stay.”

She stayed through the night, comforting patients, holding hands in the dark, moving people to warmer, safer areas, and offering calm in the chaos. When asked later why she remained, her answer was simple:

“Because love doesn’t clock out.”

I have found that sacrificial love rarely feels dramatic in the moment. It often means staying when it would be easier to walk away, giving when no one’s paying attention, and showing up again even when you’re already worn out.

What could living out sacrificial love look like today?

I suspect that most of us will never be asked to give our lives physically, but Jesus in the gospel does invite us daily to lay something down: 

Laying down convenience to make time for someone in need
Laying down pride to offer forgiveness
Laying down comfort to serve in stretching ways
Laying down self-protection to choose compassion
Laying down indifference by truly noticing others

I believe what Jesus is teaching his followers then and now is that sacrificial love is not occasional, it is practiced in ordinary, daily faithfulness. 

Perhaps our take away today is to remember that love looks most like Christ when it costs us something, when we lay something down. You see where sacrifice is present, Christlike love is taking root. And where Christlike love is lived out, lives are quietly and powerfully changed.  

Let's Pray

Lord Jesus,  

Thank You for loving us with a love that gave everything.  

Help us to love others the way You have loved us.  

Give us eyes that notice, hearts that respond, and the courage to choose love even when it’s hard.  

Shape our lives so that Your love shows in how we live and care for those around us.  

Amen.  

Love Through Service

 January 22, 2026

John 13:12–15


“When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. ‘Do you understand what I have done for you?’ he asked them. ‘You call me “Teacher” and “Lord,” and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.’” 



In John 13:12–15 the scene is intimate. I imagine the room is quiet. The disciples are confused, perhaps even embarrassed. Their Lord, the One they had seen heal the sick, calm storms, and raise the dead,  is kneeling before them with a towel around His waist.

In Jesus’ time, foot washing was the task of the lowest servant, unpleasant, menial, and far beneath the status of any respected teacher. Yet Jesus didn’t hesitate. He took on the role of a servant to show the true posture of His heart.

As it has been put, "This moment is not simply about clean feet. It is about a clean understanding of love."

in this event Jesus is redefining greatness. He is reframing leadership. He is revealing the very nature of God.

In the kingdom of God, love is not defined by status, eloquence, or prominence, but by the willingness to serve, especially in the places others avoid.

When Jesus asks, “Do you understand what I have done for you?” He is inviting His disciples (and us) to see beyond the act to the pattern. He is saying:

“If I, the One you call Lord, am not above serving, then neither are you.”

In a world obsessed with being noticed, Jesus calls us to notice others. In a culture that values being served, Jesus calls us to serve. In a time when people fight for the highest seat, Jesus takes the lowest one.

And He invites us to follow.

Service is the natural overflow of a heart shaped by Christ. Service transforms. It changes the one who receives it, and even more, it changes the one who gives it. When we serve, we reflect Jesus. When we kneel, we reveal His love. When we choose the towel, we choose His way.

Let's Pray

Lord Jesus, Thank You for showing us what love looks like in action. Teach us to serve with humility, compassion, and joy. Help us to see the needs around us and respond with Your heart. Shape us into people who reflect Your love through simple, faithful acts of service. Amen.

Now That's RADICAL

 January 21, 2026

Matthew 5:43–45 

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” 

Today’s message gets right to the heart of the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus takes well-known moral standards and gives them a fresh, deeper meaning, setting a higher standard for life in the kingdom of God. In these words above Jesus calls us to a love that breaks the cycle of retaliation. A love that reflects God the Father’s impartial mercy. This teaching by Jesus, points us toward a spiritual maturity in which loving our enemies and praying for those who persecute us, becomes the common practice of God's Kingdom people.

Jesus challenges the common belief of his time that loving your neighbor could go hand in hand with hating your enemy, replacing it with a bold new ethic: a love that reaches beyond simple trade of mutually beneficial practices. Our verses above echo the Old Testament call of love for neighbor but then Jesus goes further, calling his followers to reflect God’s generous kindness toward all people. From the perspective of Jesus, the call and indeed the challenge of loving enemies is a deliberate, countercultural practice that points to God’s restorative purposes. This kind of loving action reflects God’s practice of providing sun and rain to both the righteous and the unrighteous, demonstrating that God's goodness transcends human distinctions or categories. I believe we understand the challenge of this teaching it is one thing to love a neighbor who acts in loving ways toward us, however, it is quite another thing to love an enemy who is unloving toward us, one who may be downright hateful toward us, even threatening.

I once heard someone say, "Praying for persecutors is the engine of this love." Maybe prayer really is the key. I wonder if it shifts our hearts from retaliation to intercession, from bitterness to compassion, and brings us into alignment with the Father who gives good gifts to both the righteous and the unrighteous.

I remember attending a conference in which we were asked to name one person that we found hard to love. Do that yourself right now does someone come to mind? Then at the conference we were asked, challenged I should say, to spend five minutes each morning praying specifically for that person’s needs, not their punishment. Let's be honest that is a tough ask isn't it. How many of us in response to this suggestion were made uncomfortable and immediately put up some resistance. I sure did at the conference. 

**Just to be clear, loving your enemies doesn’t mean putting up with abuse or ignoring healthy boundaries. If you’re dealing with ongoing harm, prioritize your safety and seek guidance while practicing prayer and forgiveness in ways that do not put you at risk. It’s possible to love an enemy while still protecting yourself and others, those two things can go hand in hand. **

In time after that conference, I discovered that the practice of prayer for my enemies, and small acts of kindness toward someone who had wronged me: a greeting, a handshake, a brief note, or a helpful gesture, attending the funeral of their loved one. These little steps weakened hatred’s hold and set me free.

Why does this matter? Loving only those who love us is easy; Jesus calls us to become children of our Heavenly Father by imitating His amzing indiscriminate grace, which grows us toward a spiritual maturity that becomes a profound and undeniable witness to the watching world of the healing and freedom God's Holy Spirit can bring into our lives, and into theirs too, whether neighbors or enemies. 

Let's Pray

Lord, give me the courage to care for those I’d rather keep at a distance. Show me how to pray for my enemies so my heart can be changed by Your mercy. Help me show Your kindness to everyone in small, consistent ways. Amen.

Everyday Mercy: Loving Your Neighbor

January 20, 2026

Mark 12:30 - 31

30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

Yesterday we examined Mark 12:30 and Jesus’ call to love God wholeheartedly. Today we turn to Mark 12:31, where “Love your neighbor as yourself” is a call to make compassion tangible by treating others with the same care you give yourself, even when it requires sacrifice. This command summarizes faithful living, that is grounded in God’s love and demonstrated through daily acts of mercy and justice.

When Jesus calls the second greatest commandment “Love your neighbor as yourself,” He puts love for others right alongside love for God, showing they’re inseparable in a life of faith. Loving others is the visible proof of loving God. So, our devotion to God and God's ways, is seen not just in prayer and worship, but in how we treat those around us, especially the vulnerable, the stranger, and yes, even those we find hard to understand and therefore love.

In the Old Testament, the law Jesus quotes in Mark 12 helped shape how Israel lived together, expanding the idea of “neighbor” beyond close family to include foreigners and outsiders. A neighbor is the other person, the one we might rather overlook, because the Bible tells us that God’s covenant love crosses every boundary. Remembering God’s command to care for the alien and the poor turns our acts of kindness into reflections of God's own heart for those that we often refer to as "on the margins." Perhaps what might be helpful is for us to ask the question "What would I want if I were in their shoes?" and then act on that answer.

In everyday life, loving your neighbor often comes down to simple, repeated choices, listening without cutting in, giving time instead of rushing to fix things, sharing what you have, and standing alongside those who are oppressed. So, to live this out, we are encouraged and called to such things as offering hospitality, being fully present, speaking up for others, and giving sacrificially. Gradually over time, these small, steady acts create a life that reflects Christ’s love.

Let's Pray

Lord, teach me to see my neighbor through your eyes; give me courage to love where it costs me and wisdom to act with compassion. Amen.

Loving God Wholeheartedly

Loving God Wholeheartedly

 January 19, 2026

Mark 12:30

30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’

Jesus’ words in Mark 12:30 are not just a suggestion but a profound call to a wholehearted, all-encompassing devotion to God, who has already given us "all things". When He says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength,” He speaks of a love that is undivided, constant, and far from convenient, a love that penetrates every aspect of our being.

The heart is the center of our desires, affections, and motivations. To love God with all our heart means:

Letting Him shape what we long for
Allowing His presence to soften what has grown hard
Choosing Him even when emotions fluctuate
It’s the daily prayer: “Lord, align my desires with Yours.”

When the Bible speaks of "the soul" it is describing the innermost part of our being, the foundation of our identity and purpose. Therefore, Loving God with our soul means:

Finding our worth in Him, not in achievement or approval
Letting His Spirit breathe life into our weary places
Surrendering our whole selves, not just the polished parts

To love God with the deepest part of us is to offer the quiet confession: “My life is Yours, Lord.”

Remember, faith is not blind, mindless or without thought. In our verse today Jesus invites us to love God with our intellect, imagination, and reasoning. What might this look like?

Well, at the very least I believe it involves the following:

Allowing Scripture to shape our worldview
Bringing our questions to God instead of hiding them
Thinking in ways that reflect His truth, purity, and wisdom

It is the intentional practice of praying: “Renew my mind, Lord.”

Love the Lord your God with heart, soul and mind and lastly our verse says to love will all our strength.  Strength reflects our energy, capacity, and physical life. To love God with our strength suggests that as Jesus' followers we offer our time, abilities, and resources to be used for God's purposes, it means serving even when it costs something, it means living with faithful perseverance, not perfection. 

To love God with all our strength means the daily offering of our selves to God with a prayer like, “Use my life for Your glory.”

I know this is a well known verse to many of us, probably read lots of devotions on it, heard numerous sermons as well, yet today I believe it is a verse packed with statements that we need to return to repeatedly. For, you see, Jesus’ command to love is not burdensome, it is actually tremendously liberating. Jesus is not asking for perfection here; He is inviting us into the journey to fullness. Wholehearted love is not achieved in a moment; it is cultivated over a lifetime.Wholehearted love grows through, small acts of obedience, quiet moments of prayer, and choosing God and his purposes again and again ... Wholehearted love grows as we open ourselves to God's love that transforms us from the inside out.

I have found that the more we love God, as Jesus' words above invite us, the more we discover "How Deep the Father's Love" is, that God has loved us first, best, and completely.

Let's Pray

Lord, help me to love You with all that I am. Guide my heart, steady my spirit, refresh my mind, and strengthen my body. Lead me into a richer, fuller, and more joyful love for You, a love that fills every part of my life and shows Your goodness to the world. Amen.