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In Christ, Mark
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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
Romans 13:9-10
This ends today’s reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
Think about anything done to purposely wrong someone else and you’ll probably always find one thing.
Love wasn’t present.
If you want to drill down further, consider these statements by the Apostle Paul as he wrote to the Corinthian Christians about the matter of love:
“It (speaking about love) does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil.” 1 Corinthians 13:4b-6
If you are failing to love someone, chances are that you are allowing one or more of these behaviors to serve as a barrier to properly caring for others as God demands. Further, Jesus commanded His followers to love their neighbors as themselves, direction He said was the second greatest commandment after loving God with all of one’s heart, soul, mind, and strength.
Love God first with all that you are and you will easily then translate His love to the way you relate to other people. It’s a simple formula to follow. We just need to commit ourselves to carry it out.
Yes, the scriptures are clear that life is all about love. God loved us enough to bless us with this worldly life but He showed even more love by giving up His only Son Jesus so we could live with Him forever and not perish because of our sins. Love is at the heart of the Gospel.
It’s also at the heart of our two verses from Romans 13 today. Look again at what Paul writes in his letter to the people of Rome:
The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. Romans 13:9-10
Most of Paul’s audience in first century A.D. would have been familiar with the Ten Commandments God gave to His people through Moses at Mount Sinai. They included:
“You shall not commit adultery.” Exodus 20:14
“You shall not murder.” Exodus 20:13
“You shall not steal.” Exodus 20:15
“You shall not covet.” Exodus 20:17
This and other commands within God’s law were grounded in the order to love a neighbor which was code for anyone close to you, someone you would relate to. In its purest, most legitimate form, love would never do harm to another person. It wouldn’t allow someone to even consider adultery or murder or thievery or a covetous attitude.
This is because love in its purest, most legitimate form comes from the Lord and Him alone. We only can love because He first loved and loves us. In the end translation, God is love and anyone who is truly in and of Him will be of love as well.
For life as God intends it to be is all about love, love towards Him and then love toward our neighbors. In 2022, let’s all rededicate ourselves to loving others unconditionally and with a kind of completeness that mimics the love of the Father.
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
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