No Ill part 3
Let's talk about the Law a little bit. I know, its not my favorite subject either. But our memory verse for this Rant series, Romans 13:10, says, "Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law." And I don't want to ignore that last part. I want to say a few things and hopefully try to get us out of some religious bondage. And the first thing I want to say is: Unless you're Jewish... the Law was never given to you in the first place. And it was never given in order to be kept as a ticket into heaven. Look at Galatians 3:24-25, "Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster." The Law was given as a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ. To show us that we couldn't obey the Law no matter how hard we tried... to show us that we needed a Savior. Because the Law demands perfection without being able to produce perfection. Look at Colossians 2:14, "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to the cross." Not only did the Law demand perfection without being able to produce it, but the Law could only point out what was "wrong" with us. It was contrary to us. Against us. So Jesus got it out of the way. Nailed it to the cross. Gave us a New Commandment--to love one another as He loves us. And watch this: in reality the Law only "works" for "good" people anyway. As my father always says, "Locks on doors only keep honest people out." And honest people don't need an exterior law imposed on them anyway. Because they have something inside. "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin" (Romans 3:20). And, "Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression" (Romans 4:15). The Law was given to lawbreakers, if I can say it that way. But when you know and believe the love of God--and receive and release that love--when you obey the New Commandment... then you don't need a list of does and don'ts. Because when you know that you are loved, you love. Hurting people hurt people, but loved people love people. And love works no ill to His neighbor. When you're trying to get something, chances are you'll break every rule in the book to get it. Because you don't think you have it, and you desperately want it. But when you know what you've got--when you know who you are--you don't need to break any rules. You don't NEED any rules. Because everything you do comes from your heart. You don't do things because someone tells you to, or tells you not to. You do things because they are in your heart to do them. Remember when Jesus told us to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and mind? And to love our neighbors as ourselves? He said, "On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets" (Matthew 22:40). Love fulfills the Law. Because when you love... well... as the Beatles put it, "All you need is love." You don't need a list of rights and wrongs. Because you have no interest in anything except giving people what you've got. Giving people what they need. Letting the love inside come out!