February 15
Verse of the Day for February 15
On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.Matthew 22:39 KJV
The Key of Love · Day 15 of 29
Reflection · 3 min read
As Thyself
A lawyer asks which commandment is greatest, expecting a debate. Jesus gives him two, and the second one contains an assumption that is easy to walk past.
On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
The standard for how you treat other people is how you treat yourself, and it is stated without comment, as though the second half were obviously fine.
For a lot of people it is not fine. If the internal voice is contemptuous and unforgiving, that measure will export accurately — impatience with your own failure becomes impatience with theirs.
This is not a licence for self-absorption; the commandment is aimed outward. But it does mean that how you speak to yourself at two in the morning is not a private matter.
It sets the exchange rate for everyone you meet.
How you speak to yourselfis not a private matter.
People who cannot forgive themselves are usually generous in theory and severe in practice, and they cannot work out why.
The measure is the same instrument. Fix the instrument.
Carry this today
Would you speak to a friend the way you speak to yourself?
Pray
Read Matthew 22:36–40
36Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 37This is the first and great commandment. 38And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 39On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. 40While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them,
Keep praying
Reflection by Collins Asein, from the daily devotionals in the PrayerKey app. Bible text: King James Version.