Love Your Neighbor - Encouragement for Today - February 28, 2025

Tracie Braylock February 28, 2025

Love Your Neighbor
TRACIE BRAYLOCK

“… ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:31 (ESV)

As a nurse, I’ve had the honor of caring for people at all stages of life and with various conditions, from families welcoming new babies to those facing unexpected traumatic accidents. These experiences have given me the opportunity to demonstrate love to complete strangers. At times, I’ve had to acknowledge and cast aside my discomfort, looking past the intensity of grim situations to focus on the needs of the person I’m trained to help.

While clipping fingernails, cleaning wounds and changing bandages, I’ve also been able to listen to stories and catch glimpses of my neighbors’ lives. Because of my presence, even for short periods, others have shared with me what is important to them, what they wish they had accomplished, and what they still hope to achieve. I’ve been able to pray for and with others, display empathy, and ensure each person in my care doesn’t feel alone in what they are going through.

These opportunities can also present themselves when you offer to take out a neighbor’s trash, pick up their groceries, keep a watchful eye on their children, cook them a meal, or slow down long enough to have a conversation with them before going about your day.

Mark 12:30-31 says, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these” (ESV).

My friend, loving your neighbor isn’t always convenient. It often occurs at unexpected times when you already have plans. It can feel uncomfortable, requiring you to get involved with the very personal, usually unseen aspects of others’ lives. It may cost you time and resources that go above and beyond what you allotted in your budget. It may require you to show up, listen to stories, serve in a variety of ways, and still only catch a glimpse into your neighbor’s daily life.

Yet it’s important to remember that loving your neighbor is both a command and a choice. This choice first requires you to know you are deeply and unconditionally loved by God, and your ability to love others is an extension and demonstration of your relationship with Him.

Maybe your neighbors speak a different language than you, have different beliefs or political opinions than you, or are living a different lifestyle than you. Deciding to righteously seek their well-being by extending God’s love to them without condition will shift and shape you in beautiful and unexpected ways. You can love your neighbors because God first loved you. It’s an action that ultimately brings praise, honor and glory to Him.

Dear God, thank You for my neighbors, the lessons we learn from one another, and the ability You’ve given me to demonstrate Your love to them. May You continue to guide my interactions with others, providing opportunities to love them as I pursue Your glory. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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Want to connect with today’s devotion author, Tracie Braylock? Connect with Tracie on her website and Instagram, and be encouraged by her inspiring posts!