Love's Law!

Love's Law!

Love makes it impossible to harm another, so love fulfills all that the law requires. Romans 13:10 TPT

Rome had become the melting pot of the Jews and the Gentiles. The persecution that arose in the early church in Acts of the Apostles, with this same Paul at the head, had led to the believers scattering all over Asia Minor. Recall also that the Romans at the time were the dominant force, and were the ones in control of the Jewish structure. There must have been some bad blood all around, and there would have been some Jews hoping and maybe fighting for independence from the Romans. This is the context in which Paul was writing these words to the church in Rome. 

And as you read the book of Romans, you get the distinct impression that Paul was trying to get the people to understand the benefits and blessings of salvation, redemption and grace. When a person knows and appreciates the grace behind what s/he has received, it becomes easier to extend that same grace to other people. And that is the focus of today's extract: how do I see other people? What moves me to relate: selfish interests or selfless service? Oh, it is easy to make claims and give off vibes of affection, but the reality of my inner state will be revealed by my outer and visible activities. 

Talking about love is convenient; it does not take too much to explain. The problem is that love, from God's perspective, isn't explained by words, but by action. If what I have is love from God's perspective, it is not possible to think up evil against anyone, even if it will be well deserved. And when you think of it, by God's righteous law, we all deserved to die because of our sins. The wages of sin is death, as made clear by God all through the Bible, yet by his love, the requirements of the law was paid for by His Son. By law, the price had to be paid, but someone else did. It was paid, in line with the law, and now, we come into a special relationship with God, as there is now nothing standing between us and the full expression of the grace and love we have received from God. 

If that is true, then what will be my excuse for not loving others the way I have been loved by God? If I could be forgiven all the wrong I had done, what wrong could be so great that I would claim I couldn't forgive? If God could pay such a high price for my sin, is my ego too much of a price to pay to establish peace? All of the law's demands, from loving God with all my heart, to not stealing or killing, are all encapsulated in love, and a person who has genuine love for other people has no reason to fear the law. Love is the one thing that no law on earth or heaven can negate. And it truly costs nothing to give, except my self-importance and ego. So, the charge is out, the lines drawn and the standard laid out. A choice of response has to be made. Eternity lies at the end of that choice. His time of favour is here.