Scripture :
Romans 13:8-10 – Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is fulfilling the law.
Observation :
Paul is calling for love of others to be the driving force in believer’s lives. Owe refers back to verse 7, where Paul says we are not to owe taxes/debt; but the gospel compels us to love others. Paul also links the OT scriptures being expressed though the love of the gospel. We love, through the power of the Holy Spirit, not to earn God’s love but as a reflection of his love for us.
Application :
God loved me so much that he sent Jesus to pay for my sins so that I could be adopted by the Father as his child. Step 1 is to receive His love which most of us who are believers in Jesus accept and like. Step 2 is to share the love with others, not always as easy as we let ourselves and things of the world cloud our way. Living in the Spirit and loving others is (should be) what we do. As Paul states in verse 9 and 10, if we are loving our neighbors, we aren’t thinking about how to hurt them. Jesus tells us we are to be known by our love.
Prayer :
Father,
Thank you for your love and grace for me. Help me be led by the Spirit as someone who has compassion, love for others to point towards you.