Tuesday, May 21st, 2019

As the presidential race continues for 2020, if recent history shows anything, another season of bitter division is coming towards our country. We will be tempted each day to ridicule others who think differently than us, bash others online, or even close ourselves off from people who we used to be friendly with because they are voting a different way than us. We have a decision to make each day going forward: to choose to love others regardless of their politics or give into the temptations of the enemy and shut them out. It may seem that whether or not we love someone depends on our feelings and emotions for them, but this is just a common fallacy we believe. Love is a decision and a commitment, not a feeling. When Jesus decided to die for all of us on the cross, he didn’t do so because of his feelings for us – it was because of his commitment to us and his Father’s creation. While we likely won’t be called to die for one another in life, we can still learn from Jesus’ example and decide to love each other. After all, this is Jesus’ command in the Book of John, saying, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” Today, be like Jesus and let your decisions lead you to love rather than your feelings.

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” – John 13:34 ESV