Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. Romans 13:10
Love is fulfilled by both positive (the things we are to do) and negative (the things we should not do) commands. Love must always look at the good and best interests of others. Love is positive, yet it can be negative. For example, placing restrictions on certain behaviors. The negative way is in that it takes the overwhelming human tendency towards sin, selfishness, and cruelty. Eight of the ten commandments are restrictions of what not to do, because sin comes naturally, while good does not.
The first sign of Christian love is turning from offenses and willingly giving up anything that will harm others, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. We have the thought that Christian ethics must be positive. This is a misleading concept. It’s based on selfish thinking; focused on individual rights and liberties then what is best for others. This is common in an ungodly society.
Christians who use their liberty and freedom of liberty and freedom of conscience to act in ways that might mislead, confuse, or cause others to violate their consciences aren’t acting in love. Christians who love others will put the concerns of building up others spiritually. This can mean either way of positive and negative commands. This means either way of the things we do or the things we avoid.
As Christians, we have a warped sense of love towards others. If we are truly loving others as God would want us to. When we are offended (hurt) by others, do we go to that person after prayer and talk to them? Often the hurt we have is from a misunderstanding. Most of us don’t, we run into the habit of gossipping about it to the other people. Even when we say we are getting counsel from another Christian. Guess what? That is not the biblical way what God wants us to do. Matthew 18:15-20. Truly loving others is not letting them stay in their sin. Are we loving them to Hell or to Heaven? Pray before speaking, question what your motives are behind every confrontation, speak in love, grace, and mercy, don’t share with anyone but God first. Then go to the person, if it doesn’t get resolved then have a middle person.
How are you with truly loving others?
Do you value the other person enough to speak the truth in love?
How often have your words and actions hurt others?
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for this wonderful day. I pray that people are protected today. God, I pray that we will truly love others as you love others. I pray that our motives will not be out of selfishness but for your glory.
In Jesus Name
Amen
