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Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

Matthew 22:37-39 (NIV)

You are called to love your neighbor. Jesus said it was equal to the greatest commandment.

Who is your neighbor? What is your responsibility to your neighbor?

Listen

Walk with wise people and become wise; befriend fools and get in trouble.

Proverbs 13:20

Think

Every five years or so, I find myself looking back over the last several years and thinking, “How could you have thought that? How did you believe that?” Not only have I changed physically, but I’ve changed in my beliefs, my philosophy, and even my theology. The greatest contributor to my growth is my relationships. And regardless of whether those relationships are good or bad, they will change me.

So our choices in friendships matter. You and I will not be the same person that we are five years from now. What relationships we allow into our lives, real and virtual (books, podcasts, teachers, etc.), will change us. It is imperative that we choose wise friends. Wisdom isn’t homogeneity of thought, but those that push us to think better, act truer, and love deeper.

Jeremy Sims

Pray

Jesus, you are the truest friend. I cannot grow in wisdom without a relationship with you. Teach me through your life and the lives of those who love you. Amen.

Go

Go and love.

Go and value the other image bearers of God around you.

Believe the best in your neighbor.