Love Fulfills 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 13:9-10, NIV)

The law says, “You must not commit adultery, you must not murder anyone, you must not steal, you must not want what belongs to someone else.” All these commands and all the other commands are really only one rule: “Love your neighbor the same as you love yourself.” Love doesn’t hurt others. So loving is the same as obeying all the law. – (Romans 13:9-10, ERV)

The commands given to you in the Scriptures – do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not take what is not yours, do not covet – and any other command you have heard are summarized in God’s instruction: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Does love hurt anyone? Absolutely not. In fact, love achieves everything the law requires. – (Romans 13:9-10, VOICE)

If we truly love as God intended, we are fulfilling the law. How we treat others is a direct reflection of either love, or a lack thereof. The “shall nots” lead us directly to what love should be. Love is patient and kind, it rejoices with truth, it always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. It does not fail. (1 Corinthians 13) Our charge is to love. When we love the Lord, we seek to do His will. His will is to love one another as He loves us. Through Him, we are equipped and empowered to love as He intended. Jesus grants us patience and kindness, hope and perseverance, trust and an ongoing desire to walk in truth. May we ever seek the Lord to lead us in His love, so that we might love in a way that fulfills the law in every way.

The commands we’re given,

All point back to one;

Love one another,

And His will is done.

For love does no harm,

Instead, it protects;

It won’t separate,

But rather, connects.

Love brings together,

With kindness and grace;

It forgives, fulfills,

And walks in God’s ways.

His ways are loving,

Always He is good;

As we choose love too,

His heart’s understood.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You call us to love. Thank You that Your commands are fulfilled when we love our neighbors as ourselves. Forgive us for the times that we have not loved as You intended. Teach us to be patient and kind, so that we model truth, hope, trust, protection and perseverance. Show us how to best love those around us. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we choose to love all around us as You intended. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” – John 13:34

Teach Us to Love

Love does no wrong to a neighbor. Love, therefore, is the fulfillment of the law. – (Romans 13:10, HCSB)

Love doesn’t hurt others. So loving is the same as obeying all the law. – (Romans 13:10, ERV)

Love makes it impossible to harm another, so love fulfills all that the law requires. – (Romans 13:10, TPT)

If our focus and priority is to love, then we cannot help but fulfill what the law requires. Where there is love, there is no room for hurting others. As we choose to love those around us, God transforms our hearts and minds to see people as He sees them. Each person is God’s creation, His poema, His perfect work of art. Unfortunately, we are battling our own broken humanity. Our perception becomes clouded by unmet expectations. It is only when we let go of expectations and simply choose to love, that we begin to see others through God’s lens. Incredibly, the more we love, the more others rise up and seek to do the same. It is like the whole pass it on movement, yet it is fueled, equipped and empowered by God rather than ourselves. Acts of kindness matter and are ways to show His love, yet it is through consistently choosing to love in word, thought and deed that we are actually doing as God asks of us and therefore fulfilling His commands. May we ever seek the Lord to show us and grow us in His great love for all.

When we choose to love,

As we’re asked to do;

The law is fulfilled,

As goodness shines through.

For only by love,

Can God’s heart be shown;

Kindness extended,

Makes God’s goodness known.

O Lord, help us love,

Purely as You do;

Seeing each other,

With hearts that love true.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You call us to love one another like You. Thank You that as we do, we are upholding and fulfilling the law. Thank You that You intentionally created all of us with a plan and a purpose. Thank You that You place us in one another’s lives to challenge, encourage and grow in Your love. Forgive us for neglecting to love as You intended for us to love. Teach us to pursue Your heart and loving kindness for all so that we might love like You. Show us how to love all those around us, especially those that are difficult to love. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek You to lead us to love completely and without reservation. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

“I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must love one another.” – John 13:34