21 Days of Fasting & Prayer Devotional – Day 5: Love Your Neighbor
In Matthew 5, Jesus makes it clear that we don’t really have a problem loving those who love us or who are like us. However, if we’re to exemplify Kingdom culture, we’ll love those who are different from us and even pray for those who are against us.
“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect. Matthew 5:43-48 (NLT)
For the people of Israel, the belief that they should hate their enemies was a religious practice that had been taught to them –– not from God, but from man’s misunderstanding of Scripture. Nowhere in the Old Testament will you find any such verse. Notice that Jesus doesn’t say, “it is written,” as He often did when quoting Scripture but rather said, “you have heard.” In fact, what Jesus is quoting comes from the book of Leviticus.
“Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against a fellow Israelite, but love your neighbor as yourself.” Leviticus 19:18
One of things Jesus is trying to teach us in this understanding of ‘love your neighbor as yourself’ is to begin looking beyond ourselves and the people who make us feel comfortable. If we’re only concerned about those who we care about and who care about us, how is that being about God’s Kingdom? Even Jesus did not die for only those who loved him, but he came for all –– even those who would reject him.
So we are to pray for those who are against us. We are to show kindness to those who are different than us. We are to love our neighbor as ourselves.
PRAYER PROMPT:
Today as you pray and fast, think of someone in your life that you are upset with or who you know might be against you and pray for them. Do as Jesus said and be reconciled to that person (Matthew 5:24). It’s not in our ability to control their response but it is call to be obedient to the Word of God. No matter their response, keep praying for them.
