Daily Devotional – ‘In His Footstep’
By Kingdom Support Initiatives (KSi)
October 15th 2023

Selfless Love (II)

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind – Matthew 22:37 [NIV]

Bible Reading: Matthew 22:34-40

The command to love God is foundational to our faith journey. Our obedience is proof of our love for God. We obey because we love. Partial obedience or obedience out of fear is no obedience at all. Reciprocity is essential in establishing a relationship. In this case, God first loved us (1 John), and we are to love Him in return. Who or what we give our heart to determine where our attention will be. In fact, this can tell who we will obey.

In today’s reading, Jesus Christ was asked what the greatest commandment was and he replied on two levels: “love the Lord your God” (vertical level) and “love your neighbour as yourself (horizontal level). This means we are to love both God and man (His creation). How do we love God? Love Him with all your heart, soul and mind; let Him be the centre of your focus. Love is personal; it starts with having a relationship with God, being an ardent pursuer of God regardless, and being a God chaser. We are living the essence of our faith through our love for God. If we truly love God, we will love our neighbours.

Dear friends, as you work in that office, a study in that school or commute on that bus, let the love of Christ show forth in you. Reach out to others with the love of Christ that has been shown unto you. You can preach the gospel, and encourage people both in words and in deeds. Here’s how the Bible puts it: “And in whatever you do, do it unto God”. Jesus seeks true friend in me. Friends know themselves. If I am His true friend, I will know Him and I will always obey Him.

Self-Reflection: Do I know Jesus? Does He know me as a friend? We can find the truest friend in Jesus but can He really find a true friend in me?

Daily Confession: Even when obeying is painful, Lord help me to still obey You with joy and gladness. Help me to make you at the centre of my focus and to love you with the whole of my life. Amen

Intercessory prayer: I pray for grace for our leaders to do what’s right and noble.

Hymn: Wonderful story of love

Tell it to me again

Wonderful story of love

Wake the immortal strain

Angels with rapture announce it…