The Law of Love – Part 1
A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. John 13:34
A newspaper told the story of a boy with cancer who was going through chemotherapy and losing his hair. To show their love and support, his classmates all shaved their heads so he wouldn’t be embarrassed about returning to school. The newspaper carried a picture of them all with their bald heads, accompanied by the caption, ‘Everything we do, we do together.’ That’s the ‘law of love’ Jesus was talking about when He said, ‘A new command I give you: Love one another.’ This must have sounded radical to the people Jesus was addressing, for they lived by two Old Testament laws: 1) the law of revenge. Before Moses came along, the law of the land was the law of the jungle. It said in essence, ‘If you hurt me I’ll hurt you and then hurt you even more!’ Enemies actively sought ways to settle old scores because revenge wasn’t just acceptable, it was encouraged. 2) the law of retribution. In Moses’ time, revenge was replaced with retribution, which allowed ‘an eye for an eye’, but no more (Leviticus 24:20). You could do to your enemies only what they had done to you. To us this sounds harsh, but back then it was major progress. Then Jesus came along and introduced a third law: the law of love. It meant you didn’t have to get even; you could choose to forgive. Indeed, if you didn’t, your prayers wouldn’t be answered. This new commandment demonstrates the unconditional love God shows to us—then calls us to live the same way. So the law of love should govern your life every day.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me to love as You love me – unconditionally! In Jesus’ Name, Amen
Hi Dawn, I am praying for both of us today to be better at forgiving. A Christian counselor once told me that forgiveness doesn’t mean I don’t still feel hurt and angry about the whole thing (which in my case was being stupid enough to listen to people convince me to abort a child that I very truly LOVED), but forgiveness meant they didn’t owe me anything. Still struggling here…trying to wish good things and happiness on the father, but the pain I live with is such that lots of times I want God to make him miserable. Yeah, struggling with forgiveness here too. Kelly Clarkston I Forgive You comes to mind. Hugs my friend. Brenda
Hi Bren, I’m also praying for us both to be better at forgiving. Jesus,is the only human that has ever lived without sin. Still, we are loved by God. I think that means its ok for us to ask God for help in getting to forgiveness. We so have a mighty and merciful God, so let go ahead and turn to God for help I think I need that.. Hugs my friend. Dawn
Forgiveness is a hard word for me today. I pray, I talk myself about how I need to forgive, and why. Then, just when I think I’ve finally gotten to forgiveness,… Satan comes along and brings the whole hurtful episode up again!
Thank you for the motivation to try again to love as God loves.