Enjoying Freedom under Authority. Rom 13:1-14
The way to fulfil the law is by loving your neighbour as yourself. ‘When you love others, you complete what the law has been after all along’ (v.8b, MSG).
If we do this, we will not steal because of the unhappiness of the person from whom we steal, we will not kill or even have the wrong kind of anger because of the hurt it will bring to others. We will not commit adultery because of the damage it does to marriage and relationships.
‘The law code – don’t sleep with another person’s spouse, don’t take someone’s life, don’t take what isn’t yours, don’t always be wanting what you don’t have, and any other “don’t” you can think of – finally adds up to this: Love other people as well as you do yourself.
You can’t go wrong when you love others. When you add up everything in the law code, the sum total is love’ (vv.9–10, MSG).
The law is summed up and fulfilled by love. Love is not an excuse for breaking the commandments but a way of keeping them.
The commands were given out of love for us and are fulfilled by love. Paul does not write if you love you need not obey the commands. Rather, he says if you love you will fulfil the commands.
Jesus is the supreme example of love. Paul says, ‘clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ’ (v.14).That way you will experience true freedom and peace.
Pray that the character of Jesus, his love, will surround and protect you and be seen by the people you meet today.
Pray with me :
Lord, I want to clothe myself with the Lord Jesus Christ and not ‘think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature’ (v.14). May the love of Jesus be seen in me today .
Have a lovely day ????
God bless you