Don’t be in debt to anyone, except for the obligation to love each other.
(Romans 13:8)
Obligation to Love
Good Day Family,
God keeps it simple…but it’s not easy. The law is love, which means that we owe it to one another and to God to love everyone. That includes friends and family, coworkers and community members, church family and neighbors. We are to love those who do not love us, those we do not particularly like, and even those we don’t even know. How does the Lord expect us to do this?
The original language of this text (Greek) has several words that we translate into love so I looked up which one it referenced. Agape love is known as the highest form of love. It’s akin to the love that God has for us. It does not have conditions or limits. This is a tall order from the Holy One.
But like in English, love in Greek is both a noun and a verb. It’s a feeling and it’s an action.
I think performing the action can be done even when the feelings are slow to join the effort. Loving the unlovable may be refusing to participate in a needless argument for argument’s sake. It can mean forgiving the offense when the offender has not yet expressed contrition for the harm they have caused. It also means loving ourselves while we love others. Therefore, we are not expected to subject ourselves to more harm. Love does not allow us to be torn down in the service of others. It’s a delicate balance, and sometimes love looks like navigating those scales. Let’s commit anew to the obligation to
love.
With the Love of God,
Be well,
Pastor Cheryl