It is interesting that we look at the law as some restrictive thing. The real thing is that we are free under the Law of God and His law keeps us in line with the law of man. I know, we are to align ourselves with the Law of God and not concern ourselves too much with the law of man, but when we are following the Law of God, we will follow man’s law.

“¹³For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. ¹⁴For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” – Galatians 5:13-14 (ESV)

And there it is, how we apply the law. We are to love our neighbors just as we love ourselves. We care for them and don’t take their stuff.

“³⁷And he said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. ³⁸This is the great and first commandment. ³⁹And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. ⁴⁰On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.’” – Matthew 22:37-40 (ESV)

The second most important thing we can do to fulfill the Law of God is to love our neighbors and not take their stuff. This is not just actions that we take they are in fulfillment of the law, see Leviticus 19:9-18 where it is outlined what it is to “Love Your Neighbor as Yourself” (title of the passage in my ESV Bible). Here we see how we treat our neighbors and get along with them.

So, here it is. We are to apply the Law of God in our everyday lives by loving Him and those around us. In doing so, we fulfill the Law of God and by extension we are fulfilling the law of man at the same time. Our focus is on God and lifting Him up, not ourselves and lifting us up. As we devote to Him and our neighbors and we will be in position to fulfill the Law of God in all that we do.

How are you applying the law? Are you focused on yourself and staying right with man? What if you were to instead devote yourself to God and your neighbors to fulfill the Law of God?