Love the LORD and Your Neighbor

We are always told what not to do when it comes to the law and in rules to follow. Think about the commandments as examples; Don’t kill, don’t steal, don’t covet, don’t worship idols. All of these are obviously right actions and laws to follow, yet they are, as are most others, actions that we are to avoid as opposed to those we are to take.

Jesus was asked which of the commandment is the greatest and I find it amazing that His answer was not of those actions we are to not take, but those that we are to embrace and lead with.

“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)

Love the LORD and love your neighbor are the greatest and second greatest of the commandments. These actions are what we are to do and not to avoid. We are to love and go from there.

Lori has a former co-worker that had a rough incident and she and I met with him to offer our support. He had spent his whole life being pushed toward religion and resisted and continued to resist even today. We continued to present God’s love to him in our discussion and when we get together even now. But as a point of living the greatest commandments as stated by Jesus, we did not push him, we simply displayed love to him and did not shy away from showing him the love of God. His comment to us was that he loved and appreciated us right back thanks to our simple truth of loving him.

Where we landed with Lori’s coworker is the place where we should be landing every day. We are to love the LORD and love our neighbors. We are to display those actions daily and not shy away from them. We are to be truthful and demonstrate the love of God through our actions with others so that they can see that love, embrace it, and work to display it their own lives as they move forward. So here it is again as Jesus said:

Love the LORD and Love your Neighbor.

What is your view as to what actions to do? Are you always looking at what to avoid as the going and best approach? What if you listened to and took the action that Jesus says, love the LORD and Love your Neighbor?

Do Unto Others

“¹²So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” – Matthew 7:12 (ESV)

Most have heard of the golden rule. We are to give what we expect. Well, I believe that we get that backward a lot of the time. We feel as though we should give as is given to us. If someone treats us right, we will treat them right, and if they treat us wrong we do the same. Notice how that is, we are reciprocating the behavior that is given to us.

Now, look at Jesus’ words from His Sermon on the Mount, we do first to others the we would like to be done to. In other words we give first, not with an expectation of return gifts, but with the love that God gives. We just give as we would want others to give to us. In the title to my writing this morning I stop with our actions as it is not about the actions we receive, but the actions that we give.

I think back at my actions as a dad at my boys athletic events. I was very vocal and loud at the officials of those events. I have been “kicked” out of games as a spectator because I was too critical and vocal. As I think back this morning I find myself wondering if I was following the golden rule in my actions and to some degree the answer is yes to the critical piece, but no in my approach. We should be critical or correcting when things are incorrect. Someone’s feelings should not stop us from being truthful, but the critique should be calm and measured and loving as opposed to loud and overtly vocal. I as a trained official myself sought to know when I was incorrect or got it wrong so that I knew for the next time. But I would push back if/when someone would lack caring in the their approach.

So here is the thing for today, do unto others as you expect them to do to you. It is important for us be the giver first and then allow others to do give back. We are to give the truth to others, yet we are to come from a place of love and care with our correction and teaching. We are give that which God has for us to give and allow others of receive it and give back when/where they feel a calling to, however our gift is not contingent on theirs. We give to them first and that gift is in a/the way that we would like to receive.

What is your approach to giving? Are you one that looks to give after you have received and in like manner? What if you were of the approach of giving first and in the way that you would prefer to receive if/when someone feels compelled to give back to you?

Honor the Law

“¹⁷Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” – Matthew 5:17 (ESV)

When reading this verse it may seem a bit confusing when not placed with the right context. You see, “Law” here is referring to the words and teachings like the law of thermodynamics or the law of gravity as opposed to law in the legal sense. These laws are what keep things going and are not able to change. Jesus came to this world not to refute the words and teachings, but to affirm and fulfill them. He proved them correct.

Think about the law of gravity or other sciences. We submit to them every day and where there are those who are out in the world working to prove them wrong, even they obey the law until it is proven wrong. The same goes for the Law of the LORD. People, even I will push the limits in an effort to prove it wrong, but will fall back into obedience when I realize that it is not wrong.

I am not so smart that I can refute the Law of the LORD. I can try, but the LORD is way more smarter than me (yes I know it used incorrect grammar). The same goes for those around with Jesus. There were those who knew the Law of the LORD but even then, they would bend it to fulfill their own will as opposed to allowing it to stand on its own and fulfill the will of the LORD. These “educated” peoples were smart in the knowing of the words and concepts of the Law, yet they were constantly working to undermine it for their own benefit.

“²⁰For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” – Matthew 5:20 (ESV)

I and we are to know and understand the Law of the LORD and as such are to use it to fulfill the will of the LORD and not our own. It is not about me and you, it is about the LORD. His Law should be the law of the land and our driving force in this land. We are here for and at His pleasure and not our own. It is not about being smart, but rather being obedient to the Law of the LORD and that is where we get glory. We give honor to the Law of the LORD and in return, we are honored by Him.

What is your view of the Law? Are you here using it for your benefit? What if you were to honor it and know that in return, we will be honored by the LORD?

The Law Within

I have a comparison of the Old Covenant and the New Covenant in the back of my Bible and where my current study is not directly related to these, law is and is an important thing for me to remember. The Old Covenant was an external one where we were informed of what was needed so the LORD would not exact his wrath on us. We were given the law to abide and were reminded of our sin. The New Covenant is internal and we are drawn near to the LORD in protection from the evil in the world. We are given the law to remove sin from our lives.

“³³But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. An I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” – Jeremiah 31:33 (ESV)

The LORD will put His law within me, not just give it to me, but write it on my heart for always. My heart is within me and that is where He places His law. Reading and visualizing this morning has opened my eyes a bit more to the intentional actions of the LORD in my life. He does not just provide the law for me, He writes it on my heart within me. He no longer is driving fear in me, but faith. He does not keep me away from Him, but draws me near.

“¹I love you, O LORD, my strength.”

— Psalm 18:1 (ESV)

When I look to the New Covenant and see that the LORD writes His law on my heart, the above verse hits a little different. Our strength comes from the LORD, and now, I know and can take solace in the fact that strength has been written on my heart and comes from and will always be within me.

Where is God’s Law in your life? Are you still trembling in fear to keep from sin? What if you embrace the LORD and His Law as He writes on your heart and gives you strength to be realized is within you?

Desire to Know a Law

Yes, “a law” is what I meant. In this morning’s study of the word “law” I was led to the book of Isaiah.

“⁴Give attention to me, my people,

and give ear to me, my nation;

for a law will go out from me,

and I will set my justice for a light to the peoples.”

— Isaiah 51:4 (ESV)

In the above verse we see the word law and it is defined here from my study as “teaching” or “instruction”, which really helps to understand the context of the verse and the passage. I have to remember that God’s Word is not just rules and regulations to follow, but it is instruction and teaching that lead to discipline. It does not come from man, but from the LORD. It is breathed out by Him and for my daily use.

Man’s law is in place to stop us or keep us from doing things that injure other people. God’s Law is for us that we might not injure Him. When we break the Law of the LORD, we hurt Him. When we sin, where those sins may not hurt any other person, those sins are against the LORD and He feels the betrayal and is hurt in the process.

It is up to me to know that the Word of God is for my benefit and not my regulation. By following God’s Law, we will not cause Him harm and by extension will not cause harm to others (You shall not steal or kill, clearly impacts other people). And how do we keep God’s Law but to know and follow it.

God’s Law is instruction and teachings for us to follow. We find what to do and what not to do to bring glory to the LORD. Bringing glory to Him is clearly not causing harm to others while bringing praise and adoration to Him. We are to desire to know that instruction and teachings or “as law” of the LORD.

What are your thoughts on “a law” of the LORD? Are you seeing them as rules and regulations to follow so as not to bring harm to others? What if you saw them as instruction and teaching instead as a way to not bring harm to the LORD and bring Him glory?

Keep the Law

Seems like a little thing and easy to understand, yes. But as I read this morning, there is a bit more to it than just keeping the law.

“⁷The one who keeps the law is a son with understanding,

but a companion of gluttons shames his father.”

“⁴Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,

but those who keep the law strive against them.”

— Proverbs 28:7 & 4 (ESV)

I know, the above verses are in reverse order, first verse seven then verse four. I was led to this passage through verse seven, but I see verse four as an extension in my study and learning. You see, we are to keep the law to be thought of well by our father and family, and in doing so, we are showing the wicked that there is this better way.

I know that in the short there seems to be very slow movement forward and there is a tendency to seek a more speedy gain. I struggle with seeing all of the, what appears to be, prosperity of those around me. It seems as though it comes easily and in great amount for others when I am seemingly struggling to make ends meet. There is a real drive to go outside the law to get to what others have and experience that seeming prosperity for myself. But, I am not seeing all that there is. I may not see that those who “fell into prosperity” may actually have been struggling and working hard for the past 20 years and this is the reward for their faithfulness. I have to remember that.

It is in the law that we find understanding and fight against evil. We are in with the LORD and He will provide when the time is right. Ours is to simply obey and follow His guidance through this world. We are to keep the law and that is where we will find the prosperity that keeps us free. Yes, we may feel the struggle that comes with being without, but were we meant to have that now or even at all if it keeps us from the Father. You see, it is in the LORD that we find peace and it is manifest through our keeping of the law.

What is your viewpoint on the law? Do you believe that we have to break it to get the prosperity we want and that it is okay to do so? What if we found our prosperity in the LORD and that is manifest from our keeping of the law?

Deliver Me

It is okay and expected to ask for deliverance. The LORD is here for me and I have to know that it is okay for me to ask Him for deliverance when I find myself in a tough spot. It is okay plead with Him.

“¹⁵³Look on my affliction and deliver me,

for I do not forget your law.”

— Psalm 119:153 (ESV)

Here we see that the psalmist finds himself in a position of hardship. He reminds the LORD of his devotion to His Law. He pleads for deliverance from the hardship. We see that the psalmist is open with the LORD and asks for something in return.

I know it looks like the ask is looking for some reciprocation for the devotion. I am not sure that is the case, but the as man, the thought that giving to and receiving back is part of it. I know that the LORD does not require anything of me to give to me, He loves me unconditionally. It is hard to fully understand on my part. And therefore I feel it necessary to remind Him of the devotion I have to Him so that He will not forget my need and provide for it.

“⁷Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” – Matthew 7:7 (ESV)

It is fully okay for us to ask, and as you can see in the above verse, Jesus even states that when you ask, you will receive. We have established our relationship with the LORD and as such we have the ability to seek from Him relief.

“11But Moses implored the LORD his God and said, “O LORD, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, whom you have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand?…12Turn from your burning anger and relent from this disaster against your people…14And the LORD relented from the disaster that he had spoken of bringing on his people.” – Exodus 32:11-14 (ESV)

Moses reminded the LORD of His promise and pleaded with Him to relent, and the LORD let up on the impending destruction. We see that Moses asked and he received. The LORD heard the petition of man and provided.

In these cases the LORD responds and/or responded to the petitions of those who follow Him. As I have given myself to the LORD, He gives Himself to me. His giving is that of love, care, protection, comfort, and deliverance. Ask and you will receive. Seek deliverance and it shall be given.

What is your view of deliverance? Do you just expect it to happen? What if you understood that it is okay and expected that you ask for deliverance from your affliction from the LORD?

I Love Your Law!

You know, I used to try and tell myself that rules were in place to keep me down and not allow for free expression or freedom in general. Boy was I wrong and I now find myself embracing the rules as they keep order and give direction. Yes, there are some elements of rules that may not seem to make any sense, but those are the ones that I have just not found the application of and have to respect in the mean time.

“⁹⁷Oh how I love your law!

It is my meditation all the day.”

— Psalm 119:97 (ESV)

God’s Law supersedes the rules of the world. In fact, they are the rules we should be following in the world and less so those that are of the world. The rules of the world, I am more and more realizing are based in the rules for the single individual that would like for me to do things their way regardless of my life, circumstances, and overall goals and purpose. God’s Law gives us direction and guides us in finding and living our goals and purpose and are based on my needs and what He has planned for me and not what I want. Regardless of what my circumstances are or where I am in my life, I am provided the way through thanks to the Law of the LORD I find in His Word.

For the above reason, I love and embrace the Law. Not the law of man and this world, although I am bound to follow those laws as long as they are not contrary to the Law of the LORD. I am even a bit of a “rule follower” in that I have and will go out of my way to do things by the rules even when no one is looking.

With the Law of the LORD, I am able to move forward daily from where I am, knowing that His Word gives me the path through. I love knowing that the answers to my path are found in His Word. I read, study, and meditate on His Word daily to know and understand. Where I am impatient, I also know I have to wait for the LORD to provide for me in His time.

In the rest of the passage where the above verse is found, Psalm 119:97-104 we see more of how God’s Word and Law lead us and what we have to be thankful. Wisdom, understanding, restraint, dedication, and goodness. I encourage the reading and study of God’s Word to receive all of this.

It is hard to find the good in God’s Law when we do not know it fully. Where we are always in a place of learning from the LORD, we can rely on the truth that comes from His Word and Law. We can find our guidance and protection from the rules He has in place for us. We are to meditate on His Word and Law daily to know and understand what He has in store for us. And when we do, I believe that you will come to Love the Law as the psalmist indicates and does and as I do also.

What is your thoughts on rules and the Law? Are they there to restrict you? What if you were to look at the Law of the LORD and guiding and directing and not restricting, I wonder if you would come to love the Law as well?

Blessed Walking in the Law of the LORD

Again I find benefits to the Law of the LORD. This morning I am in Psalm 119 and I see that I am blessed through the Word of God.

“¹Blessed are those whose way is blameless,

who walk in the law of the LORD!”

— Psalm 119:1 (ESV)

In the above verse I see that I am blessed as I walk in the law of the LORD. Walking the way that is blameless. As the example of Jesus who was himself blameless.

I have to be careful in taking this verse and other too far. See what is written in that the way is blameless, not me. I am to “walk” in the law of the LORD, I am NOT the law of the LORD. It is easy for me to presume that I am somehow above all because I happen to be following the example of Christ. It is easy to act better than I am as I am seen as walking in the law of the LORD. The reality is that no matter what, I am a sinner as is everyone else and am no better than anyone.

I am no better, but I am saved. I have accepted Christ as my savior and I choose to walk in His way. I choose to abide by the law of the LORD. I choose to walk the narrow path. I choose to follow Christ. With my choosing, I have been blessed to know God. I have been blessed to call Him Father. I have been blessed to see the narrow path. I have been blessed to know that my lasting home is in heaven co-heirs with Jesus. I am blessed walking in the Law of the LORD!

Where are you walking? Are you walking your own path and hoping for some elevation to greatness? What if you were to accept Jesus as your savior and walk in the Law of the LORD to realize the blessing that comes with the blameless way?

Keep the Law of the LORD in Your Heart

It is one thing to know something and something else to commit it to your very being. The second is where I find my learning this morning in God’s Word. I continue my study of the word “law” and in this study I have found that it is important to read, study, know, and understand the Law of the LORD. We have to commit it to memory to use in our daily walk with Him and in the carrying out of His plan for our lives.

I see on social media a number of people that are defending their position on things and using God’s Word in their rhetoric. Yet when they are presented more context as to the verse or passage they are using, their arguments fall apart. These people may have read, studied, know, and understand the Law of the LORD, yet they have not committed the Law to their being and only use it to get what they want as opposed to what God plans.

I know, when I am doing my study I will post a single verse and to the first time visitor to my posts it may seem as though I am cherry picking verses. You are entitled to your opinion, yet I encourage you to read many of them and dig into God’s Word for yourself. I am a sinner just like you and will get it wrong.

“⁸I delight to do your will, O my God;

your law is within my heart.”

— Psalm 40:8 (ESV)

The above verse is found in a passage titled, “My Help and My Deliverer” in my ESV Bible. Yes, it is only one verse, yet again I encourage you to seek out God’s Word for yourself. I have been in the passage and studied this verse before and what I got from it I wrote in the margin of my bible, “God is in your heart.” And this morning I see more than that, God is in my heart indeed, but I have to allow Him to be there and along with Him is His Word and Law.

The Law of the LORD is more than just words on a page or in a book. It is the very culture that I am to live out in this world to carry me to heaven. Actions don’t do it, it is the condition of my heart that God is looking to. He will determine my righteousness from the condition of my heart that leads to the following of His Law, not necessarily the actions that I perform. Oh, the actions are important, as they will demonstrate to the world the condition of my heart. But those actions are not what get me anywhere as they are simply an extension of my heart and the application of God and His Law to my life and those actions. I can follow the law to avoid discipline, but when I have God’s Law in my heart, I follow His Law because of discipline.

God is indeed in my heart. It is up to me to allow Him to be there and also His Law. I live the Law of the LORD and not just read, study, know, and understand. I keep the Law of the LORD in my heart to guide me into actions that bring glory to Him and show the world that He is in my heart and my life always.

Where to you keep the law of the LORD? Are you storing it up in your mind to use to avoid discipline? What if you keep the Law of the LORD in your heart to guide you in you actions to bring glory to Him ans show the world that He is in your heart and your life?