March 12

Morning

You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor’ and ‘Hate your enemy.’ — Matt 5:43 BSB

“Love your neighbor.” Maybe your neighbor is wealthy, living in a mansion while you dwell in a humble cottage. Each day, you see their grand possessions, their fine clothes, and their luxurious lifestyle. But remember, it is God who has given them these gifts, and you are not to covet their wealth or harbor any bitterness toward them. Be content with what you have, and if you cannot change your circumstances, do not wish for your neighbor’s fortune. Love them, and you will find that envy fades away.

Or perhaps you are the wealthy one, and your neighbor is poor. Don’t look down on them or distance yourself from them. Recognize that you are bound to love them as your equal. Society may call them your “inferior,” but in truth, they are not less than you. We are all made from the same flesh and blood, and our worth is not determined by wealth or status. It’s only your material possessions that differ, not your value as human beings. So love your neighbor, even if they are in rags or struggling with poverty.

But you might say, “How can I love my neighbor when they repay my kindness with ingratitude or contempt?” That’s exactly when love becomes heroic. Are you only willing to love when it’s easy, or are you ready to endure the rough fight of love? The more challenging it is, the greater the reward. Love even when it’s hard—heap kindness on those who repay it with hostility. If they are difficult to please, focus not on pleasing them but on pleasing your Master. Remember, even if they reject your love, your Savior doesn’t, and your deeds are accepted by Him, even if they aren’t by them. Love your neighbor, for in doing so, you follow the example of Christ.

Evening

Then David asked him, “To whom do you belong, and where are you from?” “I am an Egyptian,” he replied, “the slave of an Amalekite. My master abandoned me three days ago when I fell ill. — 1 Sam 30:13 BSB

There’s no such thing as neutrality in the kingdom of Christ. You’re either a loyal follower of King Jesus, serving under His banner, or you’re a servant of Satan, the prince of darkness. So, the question is: “Whose side are you on?”

Let me help you answer. Have you been “born again”? If so, you belong to Christ. But without this new birth, you cannot be His. Where does your trust lie? Those who trust in Jesus are the children of God. What work are you doing? You serve your master, and whoever you serve shows who your true Lord is. Who do you spend your time with? If you belong to Jesus, you’ll want to be with those who wear the badge of the cross. Just as birds of a feather flock together, so do Christians. And what kind of conversations do you have? Are they heavenly or earthly? What have you learned from your Master? If you’ve spent time with Jesus, it will show in your life. People will take notice, just as they recognized that Peter and John had been with Jesus.

So, “Whose side are you on?” Answer honestly before you sleep tonight. If you’re not Christ’s, you’re serving a harsh master. Flee from him! Run to the loving Lord Jesus and find rest for your soul.

And if you do belong to Christ, then let me give you four pieces of advice. First, obey Him. His Word should be your law; His will should be your guide. Second, love Him with all your heart. Let your whole being be devoted to Him. Third, trust Him fully. Don’t put your hope anywhere else but in Him. Fourth, be bold in your allegiance to Him. Let everyone know that you belong to Jesus, even if there’s no outward mark—your life should be a clear sign of whose you are.