We hope this week's devotional will encourage you in your spiritual walk.
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Romans 13:8-14
8 Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
11 Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. 12 The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
Devotional: “Love does no harm to a neighbour”
As graduate nurses we recited the Florence Nightingale pledge as part of our pinning ceremony. We vowed to “abstain from whatever was deleterious” to those in our care. This principle of “doing no harm” is not unique to the nursing profession. It forms the basis of many other medical, legal, and ethical guidelines.
As Christ-followers we similarly covenant to love our neighbours in ways that do them no harm (Rom 13.10). Self-serving love, controlling love, and versions of “tough love” that are uncaring or self-righteous are excluded. Love that does no harm must be thoughtful and deliberate both in its individual and corporate expressions. It is mindful of the uniqueness of each neighbour—their strengths and vulnerabilities—so that personal affliction is avoided. Love that does no harm considers the consequences of one’s actions for the neighbour as well as the self. This exemplary, uncontaminated love was shown to us by God in Christ. In mindfulness of God’s gift to us, we respond with similar acts of love toward our neighbour.
Prayer
God, give us eyes to see our neighbours as you see them. Give us the capacity to love them with Christ-like love.
Dr. Rev Linda Stargel
Nazarene Theological College