Read the Word:
1 Peter 1:17-2:1
Meditate on the Word:
We are commanded in several places in scripture to have love for each other. Our first love is to be to God, who is love, then to our neighbor. There is no ambiguity on the topic; we are required to love each other. While most of us might be tempted to think of love as simply warm feelings of goodwill, this is not what is demanded of us. Love that is sincere and from the heart places the needs of others before our own needs. This is much different than the love that the world preaches, which tells us to place our own desires first and demand that everyone else blindly accept us.
If we are placing the needs of others before our own and acting from a place of genuine love for them, this leaves no room for some things in our lives. Peter reminds us that we are to put away malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander. These things demonstrate contempt for each other and are the exact opposite of how we are expected, as born-again followers of Christ, to treat each other. After all, our love for each other is how we are to be known as disciples of Christ.
Pray the Word:
Confess to our Lord any lack of love that you may be experiencing toward your neighbor and resolve to love well.
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