Thursday, May 7, 2026

Bible in a Year: Job 37-38 | Matthew 21

My parents created a list of rules disguised as snappy sayings for my siblings and me. Most of them either followed a three-step format, such as “Be respectful, responsible, and safe” (courtesy of my mom) or an infuriating rhyme, like “It’s never fair when you compare” (created by my dad). One of these mottos was that we had to always love each other, but that we didn’t have to always like each other.

That sounds backwards, right? Love is a far more intense sort of action than simply liking someone. That’s a lot of pressure to put on a person, especially a kid. But this saying actually points to a very freeing definition of love.

Love doesn’t mean agreeing with everything a person stands for. Love doesn’t mean setting aside your own values and beliefs for a friend. Instead, love means choosing to act like Jesus in every situation, regardless of the other person’s choices.

John 13:34-35
“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

In his many interactions with people, Jesus didn’t initiate conversation by pointing out their failures, trying to convince them to see things from his perspective, or even by quoting endless passages from the Bible. Instead, he took time to stop what he was doing, listen to what they had to say, and then invite them to join his mission.

This means that if you feel like you’ve messed up, join the club. Jesus sees you, he loves you, and he wants you to be here no matter what’s going on in your life.

Every single one of us has messed up, and we continue to do harmful things even after we join Christ’s family. Sin is a prerequisite to being a Christian! The next time we see someone doing or saying something that doesn’t align with what the Bible says, take a deep breath. It isn’t our job to fix them.

Instead, like Jesus, we have the opportunity to approach that person with love. The time to share truth might come later, but for the moment, it’s our privilege to see them, to hear them, and to graciously invite them to experience God’s love through our presence.

Questions:
Do you think it’s harder to like or to love someone? Is there someone in your life that you struggle to like? How can you show love to them this week?

Next Steps:
Think of someone you struggle to like, whether it is a family member, coworker, or neighbor. Challenge yourself to love them today, the way Jesus would. That could be something as simple as praying for God to bless them or listening to their perspective without preparing an argument in response.

Prayer:
Father, sometimes it’s really hard to like people. You care so much about every single person. Equip me with that kind of love for others, even the challenging ones. Please prompt me with what to say and do when I am around them. Give me patience, grace, and a willingness to understand their perspective. I love you, and I am learning to love everyone around me. Amen.

Series Theme Verse:

Ephesians 1:5
God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.

This post was written by Lydia Snyder, a South attendee and regular contributor to the Daily LivingItOut.