DAY FIVE

Jesus teaches us to live a life focused on others, placing their needs above our own, which reflects a deep love that can change the world. He told us the greatest commands are to love God with all we have and to love our neighbors as ourselves. This means we can’t fully love God if we’re not also actively loving the people around us. This way of living isn’t just about feeling love; it’s shown through our actions towards others, which speak louder than words.

To live like Jesus, we should start by being humble, not thinking less of ourselves but thinking of ourselves less; compassionate, choosing to see them like Jesus does, and communally, inviting others into life with us.

By choosing to live a life of humility, compassion, and community, we walk in Jesus’ footsteps, showing His love to the world. In today’s video, we’ll explore His radical call to love others today.

MY ACTION STEPS

  • A life that’s focused on others is marked by three things. As you pray today, here are some guided prayers to help you better live a life of love for others:
    • HUMILITY
      • Ask God to give you an opportunity to serve someone today.
      • Ask God to help you put others’ desires above yours today.
      • Ask God to help you think about yourself less.
    • COMPASSION
      • Write down the name of someone who has wronged you. Take a moment and pray that God would release you of your anger and resentment and choose to forgive.
      • Next, ask God to reveal someone to you who you can show intentional love to today.
      • Finally, ask God to show you who you can see with Christlike compassion – someone you can show God’s truth to!
    • COMMUNITY
      • Who can I find that will help train me? Ask God to reveal someone. If you don’t have anyone in mind, ask your campus pastor for a suggestion – or the friend that brought you to Jesus.

TODAY’S READING

On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” He answered, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

Luke 10:25-37 (NIV)

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