Love does no wrong to one's neighbor [it never hurts anybody]. Therefore love meets all the requirements and is the fulfilling of the Law.
Romans 13:10 AMPC
Context:
Paul writes to the church in Rome, which also contained people from all races, Jews and Gentiles alike. It is only in Christ that a distinction based on race, creed, language or colour will not make sense. Jesus came to die for all of humankind, and paid the price for sin for all of humanity. I cannot then say that the instructions for this new life that Christ has birthed are only for a particular race or culture. The instructions that were given to Moses were initially for the Israelites as God's chosen people, but became the standard for walking with God in the old testament.
All nations who aligned with the God of Israel and his instructions also enjoyed the benefits of this alignment. For me, as well as my family, even though not born as Jews, have I come to know the God of these laws and instructions for life? It is easy to count all the old testament instructions, get bogged down on the number and forget the whole essence of the instructions, which is God seeking a relationship with human beings, and then defining the terms of the relationship. God does not demand that which he has not provided grace and strength for, and if he commands it, he has already provided grace for obedience. Would I embrace that grace?
Message and Response:
How I view the new life that I have been called into matters. I am charged to owe no man anything, except the continuing debt of love. It means that I cannot switch love on or off as or when I please; it is not just an emotion, but the very definition of who God is. It is a debt, which must be repaid, and it is a debt because I also received the same freely from God, who then instructed me to pass on that which I have received to other people.
He lays down the law on how he wants me to approach him in worship, and he also lays down the structure for interaction with other people like myself. There are quite a lot of them, but then there is a connecting thread, and it is love. A quick look at some of the popular instructions: do not steal, do not covet, you must have no other God before me or make for yourself any graven image. If I truly love you, would I steal from you? If I truly love you, would I seek to harm you, or envy you for what you have? If I truly love God, would I dare make any image of any kind to represent or replace him in my heart? Would I have 'secret' allegiances, maybe unknown to man but definitely known to God?
You see, the instructions may read the way they are, but the message of God for all of us who read them is to examine our hearts to see what is in there, and make corrections where required. Love, as defined by God, does not seek harm to anyone else. Love does not permit me to seek the downfall of anyone, because I know very clearly that the One I claim to know and love has not treated me the same way. That tells me also that I can only give out of that which I have. This is one situation where credit or prepaid cards are of no value to you. If I have never received it, I cannot give it out. If I don't have it, it is not because I never got the offer but because I chose to ignore it.
None of God's instructions are for show, or simply to just say anything fanciful; it is either the law speaks to how I approach God or how I approach men. So, an audit of my life is required: if God were to demand an account from me right now, what would it look like? Has my heart received and responded to God's love? Is that same version of love the same one I am extending to people on a regular basis? If it is not, it is not too late to get it right. Love is God's nature, and all who claim to know and follow him cannot live by any other standard. His time of favour is here.
No comments:
Post a Comment