I shall love.

Today’s Scripture: Galatians 5:14, NKJV- “For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Paul boiled down all the law into one word and we cannot do it alone. I am reminded of Romans 7:18 which is the first biblical comparison for Step One in Celebrate recovery, “For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.” (NIV)

I have learned that I cannot carry out God’s love, but I shall. How can I do what I cannot do? Paul gives us this answer in Galatians 5:16-18 “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” (NIV)

In Matthew 22:37-40 Jesus Himself gave us this one word again. “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.” (NIV)

God created us for love and designed in us so that we need Him to do it. In the Gospel of Luke, chapter 10, verses 25-37, Jesus painted a picture for the expert in the law as to who our neighbors are. Jesus told the story of the “Good Samaritan” to point out that we are to give mercy to our greatest enemies. Love is not easy and is contrary to our feelings and logic, but we must go and do love.

Just as Paul instructed in Galatians 2:14, we should not require our neighbors to follow the laws to receive our love. None of us will be justified by the law but only by faith in Jesus Christ as stated in Galatians 2:16. I am always drawn to Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (NIV) I know in my heart that my flesh is very much alive, and I must die every day to have any chance to live God’s love. I ask the Holy Spirit to overwhelm my flesh.

Paul hits us hard with Galatians 3:3 “How foolish can you be? After starting your new lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort?” (NLT) In Galatians 4:6 we have the wonderful news that God sent the Spirit of Jesus into our hearts. We will never be perfect, but we can love by walking with the Spirit that God has placed in our hearts.

Our purpose is to welcome others to the foot of the cross of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We must do this with love and resist the urge of the flesh to point out the laws our neighbors must follow. When we simply love we can trust God to put his Spirit into their hearts as He has ours. What they do with the invitation will come from the conviction of the Holy Spirit and not from our convictions of their sins.

Love.

Today’s prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Son Christ Jesus and for placing Your Holy Spirit into our hearts. Please continue to teach me to love. Forgive me for when I live from my flesh. Help me to walk in Your Spirit. Help me LORD to love my neighbor as You love me. Thank You Jesus for setting us free and I am praying to share Your freedom and love with all neighbors. Amen.