Wednesday - Relationships to Others

"Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law" (Rom. 13:8). How are we to understand this text? Does it mean that if we love, we have no obligation, then, to obey the law of God?

Paul wants to teach us about how the law is used in our personal relationships with one another. The second half of the Decalogue deals with the way that we are to treat each other. The way we treat each other should not be out of a slavish obligation to the law but from a heartfelt service of love.

Other places in scripture give us a more complete picture of this idea. James 2:8 says this "If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF," you are doing well." Jesus also says in the sermon on the mount "In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets." Mat. 7:12.

Which commandments did Paul cite as samples to illustrate the principle of love in law-keeping? Why these in particular? Rom. 13:9, 10.

The commandments that Paul cite deal with our relationships to one another. Also Paul quotes from Leviticus 19:18. From his citations we understand that the principle of law keeping and love were not new things. In the Old testament and in the new testament, Gods message of love remains consistent.

Think about your relationship to God and how it is reflected in your relationships with others. How big a factor is love in those relationships? How can you learn to love others the way God loves us? What stands in your way of doing just that?

To love others like Jesus loved we must spend time with God through prayer and bible study.We must also pray and ask God to help us to be more like Him. Day by day as we commit ourselves in God's care He will give us a greater capacity to love as He loved. We must not become frustrated if we are unable to automatically love magnificently but we must continue to try and grow by God's grace.

Prayer: Father thank you for the way that you love us. Help us to love others the same way that you love us. Fill us up so that we overflow with love and it spills over to everyone we meet. Thank you Father in Jesus name amen.