Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not bear false witness," "You shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. 11 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.—Romans 13:8-12
This portion of Romans has had a profound impact on my life. In my humble opinion, it is one of the most powerful portions of Scripture from both a doctrinal and practical standpoint. Love is the debt that is always owed..it is never repaid. Love set us free from the law of sin and death and that same self-sacrificing love will enable us to walk in the Spirit...putting on our Lord Jesus Christ, whose love fulfilled every jot and every tittle of the law for us who believe. Love is the summation of our obedience for in it the whole law is fulfilled.
If we truly love the people God puts in front of us, we will always do what is in their best interests. We will care for them in the same way that we want God to care for us.
"So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. (Matthew 7:12, ESV)
This kind of love fulfills the law because it does no harm...only what is good, what is right or what is best. This kind of love speaks truth, ministers to needs, sets a godly example, covers faults, forgives, endures and sacrifices on behalf of others. The only way we can love this way is by relying on the power of God’s Spirit in our hearts. I like it because it is simple...one law...the law of love. Love is always the right response...love never fails.
Day by day the time draws nearer for our Jesus to return for His church. Truly, as we look around, our salvation IS nearer than when we first believed. Because this is true, let us cast off the works of darkness and live in the light of His love...freely sharing it with others. Show the people in Your life in Your outward behavior, the inward reality of the love the Spirit of God has shed abroad in Your heart! Draw them to the One alone, who can save them, by Your love.
Father...we want to love like this! Thank You that You have shed Your love abroad in our hearts. You are our Shepherd and have given us all we need to love others as you have loved us...to meet them at their point of need. We submit to Your Spirit right now and ask that He would purify our hearts and teach us to love. Thank you that you have made the fulfillment of the law so very simple...even a child can understand.
