HIS VOICE DAILY DEVOTIONAL
SUNDAY, 21ST JULY 2024
TOPIC: LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOUR
TEXT: PSALMS 15:3
He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, Nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. KJV
The whole law and prophets is summarised into two. It is found in Jesus' response to the lawyer, a Pharisees, in Mathew 22:36-40. Let's read:
Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the laws and the prophets. KJV
My emphasis is on the phrase The second is like unto it. I want you to give this phrase a deep thought. I suppose that Jesus said, the second is the same as the first or the second goes along with the first or the second reveals the first and on a final note, the second is just as the first. Either of this interpretations you decide to go with, my point is the two commandments are important to God. Loving the Lord and loving others.
One of the established ways to love your neighbour is not to gossip about your neighbour. David, the prophet of God spoke in Psalms chapter fifteen according to the hand of God upon him. He spoke prophetically of one who stands in the presence of God and abides in his holy hill. He puts it forward as a question. In verse three, he established that such person must be one whose mouth is not given to speaking lies, falsehood, slander or backbiting. One who is committed to loving his neighbour and won't gossip about him or her as gossip is doing evil. Let's read this text in another translation.
Those who refuse to gossip or harm their neighbors or speak evil of their friends. Psalms 15:3 NLT
Talebearing or gossiping is not acceptable amidst men. It separates friends and it is an expression of evil. Proverbs 16:28 says: A troublemaker plants seeds of strife; gossip separates the best of friends. NLT. You should not be a gossiper or have a gossiper in your circle as a friend. Gossip is a sin, develop a consistent hatred for it. Love your neighbour.
PRAYER
Lord, forgive me for every unloving act I have expressed to my neighbour through gossip. Help me to love my neighbour as I love you and myself. Help me to walk with others with a honest, sincere heart and attitude in Jesus' name. Amen
Written by: Mopelola Oyeniran
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