Devotion for Thursday, October 25, 2018

“Whoever secretly slanders his neighbor, him I will destroy; no one who has a haughty look and an arrogant heart will I endure. My eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me; he who walks in a blameless way is the one who will minister to me.” (Psalm 101:5-6)

The Lord knows what is in the heart. He knows what we think and our thoughts towards our neighbor. Remember that we have been commanded to love the Lord and love our neighbor. The Lord will not tolerate in eternity those who secretly harbor ill-will toward a neighbor. Come into the Lord’s presence and ask Him to create in you a new and clean heart that loves your neighbor.

Lord, this is all well and good speaking these things, but it is very hard when you have someone in your life that gets under your skin. You know these kinds of people, for You know us all. Help me to learn how to love that I would not be driven by hatred, which is all too easy in this world, but by Your love which will lift me up to stand in Your presence as one who is blameless.

I need Your grace, Lord Jesus. Only through You will I be able to live into the goal of loving my neighbor. Teach me all that this means that I would not join in the cacophony of hatred I witness every day; but be one who is different, overcoming the feelings of anger and hatred promoted by this world . Lead me, O Lord, in the way of Your peace and help me to arrive at the place I need to be. Amen.