The apostle Paul’s letters to the churches have provided insight, instruction, doctrine, caution, comfort, and challenge, to generations of believers. For many years, like Peter, I thought some of his work was ‘hard to understand’ [2 Peter 3:16]! Recently, however, I was struck by his simple summation of the keeping of the Law in just one word – love [Romans 13:10]. As I mused, I realised it was both powerful and profound in its simplicity. “Do not owe anyone anything,” Paul writes, “except to love one another, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law” [13:8]. Is he pointing out there’s a debt of love?
We hear a lot about debt in the current difficult times, but have you ever stopped to think you may have accumulated a debt of love? The commandment is ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’, and Yahshua rated it as second only to loving Yahweh with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind! One expert in Torah law asked Yahshua, “Who is my neighbour?” Have you ever asked that question? Yahshua answered it with His lovely story of the Good Samaritan [Luke 10:30-35]. Paul advises us to love one another; how much further than that did Yahshua go? Consider the story again and ask yourself who is your neighbour.
The quality of love needed must be that of Yahweh Himself, a quality which is incomprehensible! Kind, selfless, generous, unfailing, merciful, are a few adjectives that spring to mind! Yahweh is all that and more besides. As we learn to love with His love, we must be open, always learning and growing in love. We must be aware of our personal prejudices or hangups and respond readily to correction by the Holy Spirit. It's a lifelong commitment. “Let us walk with decency…put on [Yahshua]…” urges Paul [vv.13-14]. This is the goal of discipleship - to become like our Master. In Him there is perfection of love, so to ‘put on’ Him is to put on love [Colossians 3:14]. “Three things will last forever,“ writes Paul, “faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love” [1 Corinthians 13:13, New Living Translation].
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1 timothy 3:16 NIV - Beyond all question, the mystery from - Bible Gateway
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