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As Yourself
Tim Savage9For the commandments say, “You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.”These—and other such commandments—are summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”Romans 13
For most of us adultery, murder, theft and coveting aren’t on our to-do list.These aren’t things that we normally struggle with, so it’s easy to think that we’re doing ok as Christians, but here in this verse, Paul challenges us to go much further than that.“All of the 10 Commandments are summed up in this one commandment: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
Notice that Paul didn’t say, “Now here’s a good idea” or “Let’s all try this,” it’s a commandment.I really haven’t treated it as such.I think of it more as, love my family or my close friends as myself.Love those who are nice to me or say nice things about me, as myself, but what about the guy that frustrated me or annoyed me or said something unflattering about me?What about the person who is grouchy today or cut me off on the freeway or who is often a pain in the butt?Or harder still, what about those that aren’t like me, who don’t believe what I do, those that are blue or red or green or post divisive and vile things on FaceBook?Can’t I just tolerate them?
“Love your neighbor as yourself,” is a commandment.It doesn’t say to condone everything that everybody does, but it does say to love them.It doesn’t say to compromise the Word of God; it says to love them.That’s really the trickiest part.I love you, but I don’t love and accept everything you do.Often times it’s the second part of that sentence that upsets people.The thought is that if you love me, you love everything about me.In today’s world everyone gets to decide what is right for themselves and everyone else must accept it, because truth is defined by each person.Truth is defined by God and we must never compromise His truths, but He, Himself, has given us the toughest commandment, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”It’s not easy, but that’s God’s truth.
Dear Heavenly Father,
May I receive Your truths and apply them in my life.I want to represent You well to those around me.I want to be a light in dark places and be an example of Your love and joy.
In Jesus name,
Amen
