Christian Counseling Service -- Devotions

On loving your neighbor

Saturday, March 9, 2013

Mark 12:31
Jesus continued speaking of the greatest law, this time quoting Leviticus 19, "And the second command is another way of saying the first: Love your neighbor as yourself."

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/030913.cfm

(Today's Scripture is not from today's lectionary readings, but a continuation of yesterday's:)

It is one thing when Jesus tells us to love God. It's quite another to equate that with loving your neighbor, as he clearly does here. Then and now, this new dimension of loving God brings a clear spiritual mandate to our commitment to each other's well-being.

Referring back to Bernard of Clairvaux' comments about love (see yesterday's devotion:

http://christiancounselingservice.com/archived_devotions.php?article_id=1160), try this:

Substitute the word "others" for God. Then the four stages of love become:

1. LOVE of myself for my own sake
2. LOVE of others for my own sake
3. LOVE of others for their sake
4. LOVE for myself for the sake of others

So now where do I find myself on Bernard's continuum of growth in love?

Looking at it this way, I become very aware of my constantly mixed motives. I love others as they love me; that is, for my own sake. Loving others for their sake starts with this acknowledgement, and the humility of knowing myself both false and true. Every self-sacrifice is tinged with self-satisfaction. But when I accept this "imperfection," I can more confidently give what I have to give.

Jesus says it simply, "Love your neighbor AS yourself." I can't love another with any more love than I have for myself. Perhaps stages three and four are intended to be simultaneous.

In this dimension of loving God as others, I spend a lot of time in stages one and two.

God help me.

There is nothing like confession, Lord, to open my heart to your love. Only then do I stand a chance of truly loving others for their sake. And even more, of loving myself freely and humbly, without fear. As I accept my shadowy mixed motives, let me simply open my eyes and body and heart to the light. Your light, Lord. All your love.

Devotions Archive

On loving your neighbor

Saturday, March 9, 2013