Today’s Date: 8/23/2016
The Beatles were onto something when they sang the song All You Need Is Love . But Paul says it best in Romans 13:8-14
Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 15; Romans 13; Jeremiah 52; Psalm 31
Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. Romans 13:8
Being asked to Love others is the only way we even come close to showing God our appreciation for sending His own son to die for us. Let’s refer back to John 3:16 where we find out exactly how much God loves us. So as believers, we are asked to love one another.
How hard can it be? Honestly,.. hard, because naturally we attempt to make excuses as to why or what others do to not allow us to love them. We can gratify the desires of the flesh without understanding that the day could be on hand when our worldly bodies won’t be able to share this love.
God wants us to hold no debts except for the debt of Love to others. So as we work diligently to cut out our own or our children’s financial debt never lose sight of the debt of Love that doesn’t impact any bank statement. Our only obligation here is to love our neighbors.
Loving others as ourselves is a deep love that covers everything to make sure all needs are met. Helping and loving others means that your secure in yourself enough to make sure that you love your neighbors. James 2:8 says to love thy neighbor like thyself.
In order to show this love you need to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ“. There are many references to putting on a new self. Ephesians 4:24 talks about a new self created in the likeness of God; In addition Colossians 3:14-17. We can also show this in be baptized. Galatians 3:27. Second, we model the same qualities that Jesus had while on this Earth. (Love, Humility, Truth, Service) Here is where you could go with the acronym W.W.J.D. Ephesians 4:17-32
We must make sure we are getting dressed everyday – taking off sin and putting on the righteousness of Christ. It is an everyday love that we need to put on new each day. We need to keep God’s promise of a new self close to not allow worldly things invite us to enter into jealousy, anger, mistrust, being negative against others for whatever previous mistakes you or they made.
The night is far gone; and the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Romans 13:12-13
Dear Father, I am thankful that You are love. That You have woke us up from a sleep that only focused on ourselves. We rejoice that You demonstrated incredible love for us in the flesh through your son Jesus Christ. I pray that we share this great love with others. We are forever changed because of this love and I know that it extends to those around us because You have enabled us to love deeply. Today, I pray that You let Your love flow through us and touch those around us. May the love we give be a blessing and a light for Your kingdom. Amen
Love ~ Chris Tomlin