Today’s Encouragement is Romans 13:9-10 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
Love does no wrong –
These commandments from God, all of them, from the Old Testament and the New… are wise, practical, and necessary for a God-honoring and peaceful society. They are intended to guide and provide a framework for relationships; first with God, and then with the other humans who occupy this earth.
God never intended to take away our ‘fun’ by placing thousands of rules of do’s and don’ts on His people, rather He loving provided His wisdom, in clear simple language, for us to accept, learn from and use to enjoy life. Or to reject, ignore, and suffer the consequences of our rejection of His wisdom and truth.
Jesus said it simply, in essence, “Love God, love others.” Matt 22:37-39
Fulfilling the Law doesn’t save us, only Faith in Christ can save us, but Love itself, as God defines it, is the answer. It’s not about obeying laws nor forcing others to do so… but Love. And friends we can only experience Love when we recognize that God IS love and the source of Love.
My paraphrase of 1 John 4:19 “We (can only) Love (God or another person or ourselves) because (we recognize and accept that) God first loved us.”
Lord help us to accept Your perfect Love, and so be able to show Your Love to this lost and broken world.
Hold us together
Matt Maher
Today’s Encouragement 