Today's Verse: Leviticus 19:18

Monday, June 26, 2006

Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.
Now you can listen to Today's Verse on iTunes, Spotify, Echo devices, and more!

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Hanging on to bitterness and keeping alive grudges is consuming and exhausting work. It leaves little energy for blessing others, praising God, or enjoying life. The only way to overcome a bitter heart toward others is to actively love and serve them in ways that bless their lives, as we ask God to help us forgive them. If we can't do this because it's hard to feel like it is the right thing to do, let's do it because we know God and want to please him. After all, Jesus said that how we let go of the sins and grudges we have toward others is how God will choose to deal with our sins and failures (Matthew 6:14-15). So, dear brother or sister in Christ, let's forgive because we have been blessed with mercy, grace, love, and forgiveness (Ephesians 4:32). When we love others, we find the Spirit empowering us to become ever more like Jesus (2 Corinthians 3:18), our Lord and Savior!

Video Commentary...

We've included Phil's ToGather video from four years ago as an added blessing to our verse today:

My Prayer...

Father of light, love, and mercy, please remove from my heart any cynicism toward others who dislike me or hurt me. Please remove any delight in seeing others around me fail when they have wanted me to fail. Instead, please use me as a friend rather than an enemy, a helper rather than a detractor, a person who forgives rather than one who holds a grudge. I want your grace to be seen in my friendships and the way I let go of offenses committed against me. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

4 Related Resources by Heartlight

Illustration

Illustration of Leviticus 19:18 — Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Monday, June 26, 2006

A daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
"Saul, also known as Paul, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he looked the sorcerer in the eye. Then he said, "You son of the devil, full of every sort of..."
A daily guide from the gospels that challenges readers to live for Jesus.
"Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman [caught in adultery], "Where are your accusers? Didn't even one of them condemn you?" "No, Lord,"....."
A daily dose of Christian quotes to inspire and encourage.
"We do not cease to be children because we are disobedient children."
The classic twice-daily devotional from Charles H. Spurgeon.
"If God had willed it, each of us might have entered heaven at the moment of conversion. It was not absolutely necessary for our preparation for..."

About This Devotional

Today's Verse is a free daily devotional that includes a Bible verse, thought and prayer.

The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware.

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.