“Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law. For the commandments say, “You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.” These—and other such commandments—are summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law.”
Romans 13:8-10 NLT In Matthew 22:37-40 and Mark 12:29-31 Jesus answers the question "What is the greatest commandment in the law"? (the law given to Moses). His answer was to love God with all our being and to love our neighbor as ourselves. This summation of the commandments were direct quotes from Deuteronomy 6:4-5 and Leviticus 19:18. He even concluded His reply with this: "on these two commands hang all of the law and the prophets." In other words the entire Mosaic law can be fulfilled in doing these two things: Loving God, loving people. A thorough examination of the Ten Commandments will render the understanding that these commands were about relationship, not just rules. Yes, they are rules. However, rules without relationship leads to rebellion. No one wants to listen to a list of things they should or should not do if there is no relationship at the core. Life is all about relationships. God created us to be relational, not mechanical. The first four commandments (Exodus 20:1-11 and Deuteronomy 5: 1-15) are vertical (God conscious)! The last six (Exodus 20:12-17 and Deuteronomy 5:16-21) are horizontal (man conscious). This brings us to the form of a cross. God became a man and hung on a cross to bridge the gap between man and God. By doing so, Mercy built a bridge. Love was the reason. The golden text of scripture, John 3:16, is the heart of the matter. God loves us so much that He refuses to see us die in our sin. 1 John 4:8 says that God is love. When we love like He does, we are displaying His likeness. Therefore, love is the nucleus of life. Without it, we simply cannot continue to exist. Rather than looking at the Christian Faith as a laundry list of things we have to get done, simply let God's love flow to you and, then, through you. This is the most beautiful thing in life.
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March 2020
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