“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” - John 13:35 (CSB)Jesus does not say love makes you His disciple. He says love reveals that you are. That distinction matters.Throughout this devotional journey, the command to love has pressed on us. It has confronted our excuses, exposed our limits, and driven us back to the gospel. Now Jesus shows us why love matte...  Read More

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” - Romans 3:23 (CSB)By now, the command to love your neighbor should feel heavy. That is not a failure of understanding. That is the point.Jesus’ command is intentionally searching. It presses on our limits. It exposes how quickly our love runs out, how selectively we care, and how often self-interest wins. If we are honest, we do not simply...  Read More

“We love because he first loved us.” - 1 John 4:19 (CSB)So how do we love the way God's loved us? The Bible is clear: love does not start with you.You are not the source. You are the recipient.John says we love because He first loved us. That order matters. When we reverse it, love becomes exhausting. We try to manufacture patience. We force kindness. We fake concern. And eventually, we burn out o...  Read More

“Love your neighbor as yourself.” - Mark 12:31 (CSB)One of the most common ways we avoid obedience is by redefining responsibility.We are often willing to love in principle. We care about people in general. We feel compassion for crowds, causes, and categories. But Jesus does not command love in the abstract. He commands love in the concrete.The neighbor is not hypothetical.Your neighbor is not ev...  Read More

“Love your neighbor as yourself.” - Mark 12:31 (CSB)When Jesus commands love, He is not commanding a mood. He is commanding a way of life.This matters because feelings are unpredictable. They rise and fall with circumstances, personalities, and convenience. If love depended on how we feel, obedience would always be optional. We would love when it feels natural and withdraw when it feels costly.But...  Read More

“Love your neighbor as yourself.” - Mark 12:31a (CSB)Jesus does not speak softly here.When He says, “Love your neighbor,” He is not offering advice for people who already feel loving. He is issuing a command from the King of the kingdom. This is not optional spirituality. This is obedience.That alone should slow us down.We live in a culture that treats love like preference. You love when it feels ...  Read More