THE UPPER ROOM DEVOTIONAL 1ST OCTOBER 2025, WEDNESDAY MESSAGE
Walking with Neighbors
Chris Bullis (North Carolina, USA)
Today’s Reading
Matthew 22:34-40
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You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and your neighbor as yourself. – Luke 10:27 (NRSVUE)
When I retired, I moved to the mountains and lived only a few miles from the Appalachian Trail. Each year, thousands set out to hike the entire trail — a months-long journey of nearly 2,200 miles. Hikers must carry everything they need to survive — for days at a time. Many hikers end up tired, sore, and short on water and food, despite their best planning.
Encountering these “thru-hikers” on my day hikes, I was amazed at how they looked out for each other and shared their meager resources. A few ounces of water, a little food, a bandage, an aspirin, or a ride into town could make a huge difference. Strangers formed community. The other hikers became their new “neighbors.”
As Christians, we are called to serve others and take care of our neighbors in need. On the trails I regularly visited, people benefited from small kindnesses. I always brought extra food, supplies, and a well-stocked first-aid kit on hikes. I was enriched by my interactions with hikers; we shared stories, laughed, hugged, and prayed together. What opportunities do we have to serve others? Let us be observant and open-minded, pray about it, and see what surfaces.
Thought for the Day
Wherever I am, I can care for my neighbors and make a difference.
Prayer Focus
Hikers
Today’s Prayer
O God, our Savior, thank you for the beauty of your world. We thank you for opportunities to meet new friends and neighbors. Amen.
The Upper Room Devotional 1st October 2025 is a daily devotional magazine published in more than 30 languages and 100 countries around the world. The daily meditations are written by readers of the magazine and others interested in sharing their faith experiences through writing—both laity and clergy, published authors and new writers. Read More
