THE LOVE OF GOD
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. —Romans 13:8-10
For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. —Romans 14:7-8
Love, biblical love, what is it? It is loving self and others as Jesus loves us and others. Loving like this, “Love your neighbor as yourself” sums up the law. “Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments” (Matthew 22:37-40).
As followers and disciples of Jesus, brothers and sisters, “none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.” And so as we belong to the Lord, we are not to live for ourselves, but for others. This is what Paul said when he actually desired “to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far” (Philippians 1:23). He went on to say, “but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me” (Philippians 1:24-26). Paul’s life was all about lovingly encouraging others. What about you and me? What defines our lives?
Oh, may we allow the Lord of our Lord to transform us and extend to others for their benefit. Yes, Dear Father, may this be so by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son Jesus. Yes, may this be so because “these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love” (I Corinthians 13:13). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUy3yaSd9b0&list=RDNUy3yaSd9b0&start_radio=1