Are you a by the book person? Do your emotions ricochet from one extreme to another? Do you function well in structured organizations? Do you prefer to have flexibility to do as you see fit? Are you good at following instructions or prefer to give them?
Each of us has our own personality and preferences. We work better in some environments and not as well in others. Some need oversight and guidance while others are self-starters and take initiative. All of us need to learn to take instruction from God and follow it.
The primary instruction we receive from God is to love. Jesus tells us we are love God with our entire being. He followed that up by saying we are to love our neighbor. Paul reiterates Jesus’ teaching by saying we are to love one another. He rattles off the things we are not to do as documented in the ten commandments in Romans 13:9. But more importantly, he states that loving one another fulfills the law.
Why is that important? If we ever wonder if we are following God’s will, we simply need to ask ourselves if we are loving one another. We demonstrate our love by not doing wrong to one another but by treating one another well. The love both Jesus and Paul speak of is not an emotional love but a committed love, a love that comes from a decision. We are to consciously decide to love one another today and every day. It is by loving one another that we live in God’s will and fulfill the law he gave thousands of years ago and we are to obey today.
I pray we choose to love one another. I pray we decide to live in God’s will and fulfill his law. I pray each one of us demonstrate our love by consciously deciding to treat one another well. Fulfill God’s law. Live in God’s will. Love one another. Demonstrate your love.
Romans 13:8, 10 Owe no one anything, except to love one another, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law…. Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.
Marty Pressey 