April 25, 2015: James 2:7-8

We encourage you to read this devotion three times a day.  Start in the morning and reflect upon the morning reflection question. Then in the afternoon, read it again and reflect using the noon question for reflection.  For the evening, take time to ponder how this has resonated with you in the day and reflecting using the evening question.  We offer a prayer with each devotion for you to pray or we invite you to pray what is in your heart.

James 2:7-8

“Is it not they who blaspheme the excellent name that was invoked over you? You do well if you really fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

Reflection:

The Queen in Snow White turns to the mirror on the wall and says, “Mirror, Mirror, who is the fairest of them all?” The mirror responds in saying, “You are the fairest of them all.”  Until one day, the mirror responds that Snow White is the fairest of them all. This immediately hurt the Queen’s ego. She had to do something to regain her status.  The Queen loved herself a ton.  In fact so much, that she did not care about hurting others.

In some ways, when thinking about this scripture, it states, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” What would this mean if the Queen loved Snow White as she loved herself?  Well, that might make the story not as riveting, but not only would Snow White’s life be changed because of this great love, but so would the Queen’s.  It is quite challenging to love certain individuals at times, but if we loved them as we loved ourselves, it might be easier.  If we responded in loving others in this way, the world would be transformed.

Reflection Questions

Morning: When have you felt a time that someone loved you as they loved themselves?

Noon: How do you think this would make a difference in your life or the life of another?

Evening:What can you do to transform your actions live out this scripture?

Prayer: Lord, it is easy to love ourselves and not our neighbors. Let us be reminded of the impression that loving others can happen on them and ourselves.  May we continue to grow together to live out Your word and be disciples of Christ. Amen.