• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Prayer
    • Examen
    • Fasting
    • Sacred Reading
    • Self-denial
    • Silence & Solitude
    • The Sacred Everyday
  • Bible Studies
    • To Do-ers List
    • 1 Thessalonians: A Life of Faith
    • Scripture Art Journaling
    • Walking WIth God: A Bible Study on the Book of Ruth
    • Short & Sweet
    • Daily Bible Studies
    • Take 5!
    • Bible Journal-graphics
    • Scripturegraphics
    • Guides
  • Podcasts
    • Reflections
    • ihear
    • i pray
    • Walking in Truth
    • Topical podcasts
  • Salvation
  • Healthy Living
    • Aromatherapy
    • Children
    • Exercise
      • Faith & Fit
      • Free One-Week Workout!
    • Gardening
    • Herbs
    • Natural Beauty
    • Recipes
    • Stress
  • Shop
  • Nav Widget Area

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Twitter

Only By Prayer

Where the sacred and everyday meet

You are here: Home / Bible Studies / To Do-ers List: Love Others

To Do-ers List: Love Others

To doers

Day 2

To Do-ers List: Love Others

37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40

Since we started our series with God’s Greatest Commandment: Love God, it is fitting that we move on to His second greatest commandment: to love others as we love ourselves. Ouch! That is a tall order. In my opinion, it is easier to love God than to love other people. Other people can be annoying. They can let us down. And quite often they don’t love us back. How can we love somebody who does not love us? How can we love others?

Fortunately, loving others is a choice we make, which does not depend on their attitude towards us.

Loving is a choice, not a feeling.
Tweet This

Identifying others.

Today’s verse uses the word neighbors. Love my neighbors … I don’t even know some of my neighbors. In the Greek, others/neighbors transliterates as plesion, which means “neighbor, friend, any member of the Hebrew nation and commonwealth; according to Christ, any other man irrespective of nation or religion with whom we live or whom we chance to meet.” Did you notice the spatial/geographical progression of the definition? Neighbor … friends … Americans … any person in the world. So others refers to everybody in the whole world. Wow! While it is impossible for me to tangibly love everyone, I can love others whom I chance to meet.

Loving others as you love yourself.

How do I love me, let me count the ways. Start by thinking about how you treat yourself. You take the best piece of cake for yourself (the one with the frosting flower). You sit in the chair, which affords the best view of the TV screen. You order first (always) at Panera. You ride in the front seat of the car. When with your friends, everyone eats at your favorite restaurant and shops at your preferred stores. Loving others calls for a 180 attitude adjustment.Love Others

Do you want others to pray for you? Pray for them. Do you desire mercy? Show mercy. Do you like encouragement? Encourage others. Do you want others to love you? Love others.

Love others as you love yourself.

For Today:

Before you start your planning for today, take a moment to pray for God’s guidance and power as you seek to love others. Today, as situations arise which involve others, think of how you’d wish to be treated and treat them accordingly. Be especially aware of people who:

  • cut you off in traffic (you and I have NEVER done this).
  • are slow in the checkout lane.
  • bring you food you did not order (or forgot to leave off the onions-again).
  • are late for an appointment, meeting, or dinner.

Use the To-Doers List Study Guide or a journaling app to plan and journal your day.

  • To Do-ers List Study Guide PDF The study guide is very essential to your learning!
  • Days Lite: My Wonderful Life App free app from App Store.

For ideas on how to love others, please check the resources below.

  • Love Like Jesus
  • Love By Faith

Don’t forget to leave a comment in the comment section below. Have a blessed day. Remember to love others!

In case you missed day 1, click on the link below:

To Do-ers List, Day 1: Love God

http___signatures.mylivesignature.com_54493_129_D5D820C2A0F89154063869217CF282DC

By Mary Kane

all rights reserved.

copyright 2015

image_pdfimage_print

July 28, 2015 5:00 am MaryK 30 Comments Filed Under: Bible Studies, Devotions, Grow Your Faith, Living Truth, To Do-ers List

Don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. 1

    Jane VanOsdol says

    July 28, 2015 at 7:21 am

    Ouch. I have already seen myself in this list. Perhaps the part about standing in line …. Today’s study is about being selfless.

    Reply
    • 2

      MaryK says

      July 28, 2015 at 7:28 am

      Good reminder, Jane: selfless not selfie-ness!

      Reply
  2. 3

    MaryK says

    July 28, 2015 at 8:35 am

    I struggle with this! I always feel a sense of entitlement!

    Reply
    • 4

      Jane VanOsdol says

      July 28, 2015 at 9:58 pm

      Oh! That word crossed my mind today too!

      Reply
  3. 5

    Kim says

    July 28, 2015 at 8:37 am

    This one is tough, and a working process. We need to remember the Golden Rule: treat others the way you want to be treated.

    Reply
    • 6

      MaryK says

      July 28, 2015 at 7:24 pm

      You are right Kim. “Treat others as you want to be treated” not “Treat others as they have treated you.”

      Reply
  4. 7

    Rachel says

    July 28, 2015 at 8:52 am

    I actually try to do the things stated above on a daily basis, especially since I work in a grocery store. But there are some days it is a struggle.

    Reply
    • 8

      MaryK says

      July 28, 2015 at 7:27 pm

      I am sure you have many opportunities to LOVE others, Rachel!

      Reply
  5. 9

    Emily Benson says

    July 28, 2015 at 9:19 am

    It is so difficult to love those who don’t seem to love you back. A good reminder to pray that God give me wisdom and power to love the ones who don’t love back.

    Reply
    • 10

      MaryK says

      July 28, 2015 at 7:28 pm

      They are usually the ones who need it the most.Thank you for sharing, Emily!

      Reply
  6. 11

    Rita says

    July 28, 2015 at 9:36 am

    I am glad to see that you are keeping each Day on your site when you post the new Day. I will be needing to re-read Day 2 every day! Well said.

    Reply
    • 12

      MaryK says

      July 28, 2015 at 7:29 pm

      Rita, I am so glad you commented. You know what I mean about the “frosting piece of cake”! I also need to read Day 2 every day … sometimes hourly!

      Reply
  7. 13

    Jellene Morehead says

    July 28, 2015 at 10:10 am

    I find it hard to love people where I work. It seems they do all they can to get on my nerves. I’m older than most of them and I should be the little old gray haired woman who will put my arm around them and say bless your heart. Instead I get a little sideways with them and I am not very loving to them. God often reminds me to love them as I have loved you, when you were not very loving. Only through God’s amazing grace can I love others.

    Reply
    • 14

      MaryK says

      July 28, 2015 at 7:31 pm

      Thank you for being real Jellene. It is only by His grace we do anything!
      P.S. I love your name!

      Reply
  8. 15

    Renea' Boutte says

    July 28, 2015 at 3:14 pm

    When I am struggling with loving the person in front of me, I remind myself that I don’t know what they are going through. It helps me to at least be kind to them even if I still struggle with loving them.

    Reply
    • 16

      MaryK says

      July 28, 2015 at 7:32 pm

      Renea, I can’t see you being anything but loving to everyone. You are beautiful. Thank you for sharing my friend!

      Reply
      • 17

        Renea says

        July 28, 2015 at 9:56 pm

        Thank you, Mary. That means a lot.

        Reply
  9. 18

    Anitra says

    July 28, 2015 at 5:22 pm

    My challenge from today.
    1. I truly believe I love my husband and kids no matter what they do. In my heart, I feel annoyed at times but never feel like I don’t love them. However, my actions don’t show that I love them. When they are taking and not giving and I am exhausted at being the only giver (or when that is my perception) my heart attitude and my tone of voice is not loving. Today while studying, I realized that I can’t really claim that I love them if my actions are not showing them unconditional love. I am anticipating the Lord to help me with my tone and my inside attitude this week in response to my needy family.
    2. This past week my friends and acquaintances have been having a heated discussion on Facebook about a topic I feel strongly about. As I studied today, it occurred to me that I am not feeling very much love toward these people. Although I have kept my mouth (and my fingers) shut, I have had many unloving thoughts. I am turning this over to God today.
    3. The neighbor kids are constantly knocking on our door to play, ask for snacks etc. At the beginning of summer, I LOVED this and I loved them well. The last 2 weeks….not so much. I am asking God to help me renew my love for these kids and be slow to annoyance.
    4. I would have never thought that I would have gotten so much out of this well known verse today. Those are just my top 3 convictions. So thankful that God’s Word never stops teaching me and that you have written this study.

    Reply
    • 19

      MaryK says

      July 28, 2015 at 7:36 pm

      Anitra,
      You are amazing. I love your insights. Number 3 made me laugh out loud. I remember the days when everyone wanted a piece of me. Keep praying and depending on God to fill you up so you can pour out. You have been through a lot these past few weeks. You are a wonderful Christian woman, wife and mother. Keep on. Great is your faith.

      Reply
  10. 20

    Emily says

    July 28, 2015 at 8:04 pm

    I loved my mom for the many invaluable lessons she taught me when she walked this earth. One of the biggest was this very topic, loving others. When I was having an unloving attitude toward someone, she would look at me and say, you need to pray for that person…a kind prayer. She always told me when you are regularly praying for a person, you will find it difficult to be unloving. God definitely has a way of softening our hearts towards others.

    Reply
    • 21

      MaryK says

      July 28, 2015 at 9:53 pm

      I can hear your mother saying that, Emily. You are just like your mom; very calm, faithful, and loving! God does take our heart of stone and gives us a heart to love others. Thank you for sharing.

      Reply
  11. 22

    Elaina says

    July 29, 2015 at 2:17 am

    Today’s study made me realize that it is fairly rare that I truly put anyone before myself. Even though there are times when I help others, if the work or task is not enjoyable to me I end up having an attitude that is not loving at all.
    I think it’s really easy to become comfortable in ourselves, but it’s when we step out and love others that we grow! Thanks for this reminder; it is so important & something I will try to do better 🙂

    Reply
    • 23

      MaryK says

      July 29, 2015 at 7:01 am

      Elaina, I appreciate your candid reply. I am guilty of the same offense. Thankfully, God offers His grace and transforms our mind and heart. Thank you for sharing!

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. To Do-ers List: Walk by Faith says:
    July 30, 2015 at 7:15 am

    […] To Do-ers List, Day 2: Love Others […]

    Reply
  2. To Do-ers List: Word in Me says:
    July 31, 2015 at 7:14 am

    […] To Do-ers List, Day 2: Love Others […]

    Reply
  3. To Do-ers List: Without Complaining says:
    August 3, 2015 at 8:19 am

    […] To Do-ers List, Day 2: Love Others […]

    Reply
  4. To Do-ers List: Trust God says:
    February 9, 2016 at 9:53 pm

    […] To Do-ers List, Day 2: Love Others […]

    Reply
  5. To Do-ers List: Pray ’bout Everything says:
    September 27, 2016 at 2:40 pm

    […] To Do-ers List, Day 2: Love Others […]

    Reply
  6. To Do-ers List: Trust God - Only By Prayer says:
    July 26, 2020 at 5:38 pm

    […] To Do-ers List, Day 2: Love Others […]

    Reply
  7. To Do-ers List: Pray 'bout Everything - Only By Prayer says:
    July 26, 2020 at 5:39 pm

    […] To Do-ers List, Day 2: Love Others […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

How to Become a Christ Follower

https://youtu.be/K0HALBis50A

New to prayer? Start here:

A prayer is mightier than a wish

Prayer Resources

A Little About Mary

Bible study writer. Teacher. Runner. A fan of all four seasons. Loves Jesus. Follow me @MaryKayKane. Read More…

A Little About Jane

Follow of Jesus. Writer. Beekeeper, herbalist, and aromatherapist. Love looking for the sacred in the everyday. Often find it in the garden. How about you? Read More…

Subscribe to Podcast on iTunes

Please pray as Covid is quickly spreading through many areas of our country and the world. Click on this link to see what One Prayer is all about and for information on the current prayer concern.

Subscribe to our mailing list

* indicates required
[fts_facebook type=page id=169366963096917 access_token=EAAP9hArvboQBACjMBkdwSPszTn6T3ENahqBJCltN1U4qLoaEvJ0jmZCpbFkIwdehb4pHtaT4Nrj02teGDyRsfwpCyJXpWMKXedavEAyZAN9R48OZC4BcEra2TXMaY9AcMhkBcktvk9jzCoin6QSJZCk1g4bwoyNkU206LedeqAZDZD posts=1 description=no posts_displayed=page_only images_align=center]

Search by Topic

Advent Advent devotional Bible Bible study Bible study series Christ Christmas devotion Easter faith following Jesus give thanks God God's Word Grace healing heart Holy Spirit hope Jesus Lent life Lord love online Bible study Only By Prayer peace podcast pray prayer prayers praying purpose quick Bible Study quick devotions Ruth scripture Short & sweet short Bible studies short Bible study short devotions sin Thanksgiving walk by faith women's Bible study

Archives

Privacy Policy

Daily Bible Studies

Psalm 23 Remix

Psalm 23 Remix

July 9, 2020 By MaryK Leave a Comment

Psalm 23 is one of the the most well-known parts of the Bible. People who do not claim to be religious can quote parts of Psalm 23. Christians have become so familiar with this beloved psalm we almost cease to hear it. What we need is a Psalm 23 remix- a fresh look at an […]

Newsletter Subscription

My Favorite Post

be loved, Beloved Bible Study

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 is one of the most well known Bible verses in the world. Perhaps you already know it by heart. I’ve had it memorized for a long time.[Read More…]

Only By Prayer Tweets

[fts_twitter twitter_name=by_prayer tweets_count=2 cover_photo=yes stats_bar=no show_retweets=no show_replies=no]

Footer

Feature Anything

Advent Devotional

Re-Advent Your Life Are the hectic holidays derailing your devo time with God? If so, we’d love to have you join us in our new[Read More…]

Featured Product

Beeswax Candles

A Featured Item

Lent

Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. As a child, I remember the solemn mass of Ash Wednesday and being anointed with ashes in[Read More…]

  • About Us
    • About Jane
    • About Mary
  • Contact Jane and Mary

© Copyright 2016 · Pretty Lifestyle WordPress Theme by: PDCD