Romans 13:8-10
Do not owe anyone anything except to love one another, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments—do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not covet (and if there is any other commandment)—are summed up in this statement: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor, so love is the fulfillment of the law.
Dear Heavenly Father,
You have given us this command to love one another because we cannot do it on our own. We are so quick to hold on to grudges and want to pay back others for something they did to us. But Paul said, through the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, do not owe anyone anything except to love one another. Please help us to understand true love. We think of love as that feeling when someone catches our attention or the first time; we tell someone we love them. However, that’s not love; it is a part of it! But love comes after that when they have upset us, and we forgive them. Love forgives us when we have wronged them. When they struggle with their job or have health challenges, love causes us to stand alongside them.
Why? Because love is what your Son did for us. When we were “the selfish jerk,” Jesus went to the cross to die for us. Our sins should have condemned us forever, and we did not deserve to be forgiven, but he suffered our punishment in our place so that salvation and eternal life are ours through faith in Jesus.
You gave us your commandments, and we can lose track of their purpose when we focus on what we are not to do, but love fulfills them. We love our spouses and honor them by not hurting them with someone else. Murder begins in the heart by hating someone else; forgiveness towards others overcomes that hate. Moreover, being content with what you blessed us with, we don’t have the desire to take those things that belong to someone else. Love fulfills your commandments.
We pray that you forgive us for Jesus’ sake when we are loveless towards others. We can only have a heart of love that comes to us through the forgiveness Jesus has given us. So we pray that you create in us new hearts that show true love to others. May we love others as Jesus loved us and share with them the forgiveness and love he has given to us. Grant us those opportunities today to share Jesus’ love with them. Amen.
Written through Pastor Roger Emmons
Love can overcome many sins; look at what Jesus suffered for you so that you now have salvation and eternal life.