Just One
February 15, 2019
For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Galatians 5:14
Moses gave us the big Ten Commandments, and gradually, over time, there were 613 official laws added to the Talmud, and many other “suggestions” that also carried much weight. Religious people tried very hard to live up to them, and mostly failed miserably. Checking off a to-do list, simply meeting the standards, can be one of the emptiest things we ever experience. It’s about relationship. It’s about experience. Performance is not part of the deal.
The New Testament church was led by people who walked daily with Jesus. They ate with Him, worked with Him, played with Him, and worshiped with Him. They knew Him. As they represented His heart, they said that all those laws could be reduced to just one: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
That tells us that the power to love like this is supernatural. To love your neighbor as yourself is not a normal human urge, and it requires the empowering of God. God will give us the power to love as He loves. It is the only way we can. It’s the greatest proof to the world that He is who He said He is. It is the way we win the world and show our love to Him.
- Lord Jesus, You are FOR the world. You are FOR me. You want to use me to do your most significant work in this world. It is loving my neighbors the way You have loved me. As I open myself to You, please fill me with Your love, and help me have the wisdom and clarity to share well with every person You bring into my path. It’s the ONE thing You want from me. Amen.