Romans 13:8-10
“Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who
loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You
shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall
not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall
love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a
neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”
I’ve been very open with my readers
that I have a big problem with the misuse of the word “Love.” If I can love the color green, and apple pie,
and football, and dogs, and my wife, and O’ what about God, sure I also love
God, is that not somewhat confusing?
When a young teenage boy tells a cute teenage girl I’ love you, 99.9 % of
the time he has no understanding of love.
God who is all knowing knew you and I would need help, just like King
David did when he was roof gazing and fell in lust with Bathsheba,
read it again I did not say love, in fact that lust is played out often in many
ways in each of our lives. It is a great
story if you have time to read it, looks at 2 Samuel chapter eleven.
In fact, the Holy Spirit had the apostle Paul record the
true definition of love in 1 Corinthians 13, and it is often used in weddings,
but not so often in funerals, and the reason is love must take place among the
living, it is condition for having a lasting relationship. First,
love is patient and kind, and as a husband to Jan it has been one of my
greatest challenges, learning, still learning to be patient, for in the absence
of patience, you will not find kindness.
Love does not envy or boast; it
is not arrogant or rude. So where there
is envy, boasting, arrogance or just being rude to others, love is not
present. Note:
In this Presidential election you and I should take note of this before casting
our vote. Love does not insist on it’s own way; it is not irritable or resentful,
so if it is your way or the highway parents, maybe it is time for some
reflection on your relationship with the Father, and how often you ignore His
voice. And teenagers if you find
yourself being irritable at your teachers or parents and not showing respect,
but holding a grudge, you have no understanding of love. Love
does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth, so make sure
you are rejoicing about what is true, and not about getting even. Love
bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all
things. Love never ends.
“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does
no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.” Maybe,
just maybe we need to take the introduction course 101 on love, for if you
cannot love your neighbor as yourself, how could you hope to love God who you
have never seen? How can we follow the
commands of Jesus, where He tells us to love our enemies? Maybe it’s because you are confused about the
meaning of love, and that’s not all your fault, your parents and their parents
also misused and maybe were a little puzzled about its true implication.
Know this if you love apple pie and God
in the same way, you have missed love totally!
Ask the Holy Spirit the one Jesus refers to as the Helper to help you be
first and foremost a lover of the Father, for He is worthy of your love, and
then to show you how to love Jesus and your neighbor.
From the Back Porch,
Bob Rice
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