Are you a letter of the law kind of person? Do you believe following the rules to the “T”? Do you get angry when others do not follow the rules? Do you make up your own rules? Do you restrict the law more than it was originally intended?
We all like to follow the rules or laws to one degree or another. Some of us are more attentive to them, while others are more willing to bend or stretch them. But following the law can be a bit confusing or difficult due to the complexity of the many laws.
But Paul tells the church in Rome there is an easy way to not only obey but fulfill the law. It is simple, yet also difficult. We are to love our neighbor. That is where the rub comes in. Our neighbor isn’t just the person who lives next door but every person we encounter.
Loving people we disagree with is hard. Loving people who perform horrible acts is hard. Loving people from another culture is hard. Loving people who fight against us is hard. Sometimes, loving family members is hard. So, how can we love our neighbor?
We can only love as God loves by allowing Him to take control of our lives. We must give up our preferences and desires. We must ask Him to open our eyes to see everyone as He sees them. When we see the other person as God sees them, our perspective changes dramatically.
Loving our neighbor does not mean we must agree with them nor that we must approve of their actions or attitudes. We can love someone without being in full agreement. We can love someone without approving their behavior. But we can only love them as God loves them when we allow God to take control of our lives.
I pray we all choose to fulfill the law. I pray we choose to allow God to take control of our lives. I pray each one of us will choose to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. Fulfill the law. Love your neighbor. Allow God to take control. See others as God sees them. Love as God loves.
Romans 13:8-10 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. 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.
Marty Pressey 