Meditation: Romans 4:13, 16-18 It was not through the law that the promise was made to Abraham … but through the righteousness that comes from faith. (Romans 4:13) Don’t you just love the look of a list with everything checked off? Writing down the tasks you have to do and crossing them off as each is completed—it gives you such a sense of accomplishment. That’s probably why we gravitate toward turning God’s law into a checklist. But do you really want to try to rely on a checked-off list to convince God to accept you? Let’s be clear. God didn’t intend his laws to be a checklist but a window into his own mind and heart so that we could see what love really looks like. At its core, the Law gives us examples of how we are called to love God and love each other. When God chose Abraham, there wasn’t any Law yet, but he considered Abraham righteous simply because he loved God, and he loved his neighbor. Abraham upheld the Law before there even was a Law! Now, let’s fast-forward to the New Testament. When asked by a scribe, Jesus affirmed that the essence of the Law is loving God with your whole heart, mind, and strength, and loving your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:36-40). So when you see someone avoiding false idols, keeping the Sabbath holy, or reverencing God’s name, you say to yourself, “That person really loves God and puts him first.” And when you see someone respecting others, upholding their dignity, and being generous, you say, “That person really loves his neighbor.” More than checking off a to-do list, this person is reflecting the character of God’s love written on hsi or her heart. Most people only look at other people’s choices and actions. But if we’re living the law of love, there is a good chance that we will end up reflecting the beauty of that law. That’s because love is contagious. That’s because Jesus is contagious! As the old song goes, they will know we are Christians by our love—not because of our conformity to certain laws or because of our well-worn checklists! “Jesus, I put aside my checklist. Enkindle your love in my heart so that the choices I make demonstrate your love and life to everyone who sees me.” Psalm 105:6-9, 42-43; Luke 12:8-12
Posted on: Sat, 19 Oct 2013 04:51:03 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015