Romans 13:9-10
The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbour as yourself." Love does no harm to its neighbour. Therefore love is the fulfilment of the law.
What of Today’s Verse…
Wouldn’t it be great if we didn’t have to have laws to keep people in line! That’s the point behind Paul’s message here. Treat our neighbours as we would like to be treated. Love them as we like to be loved. If we do that, then we’re not going to do anything that would hurt them, much less violate a command of law!
Let us Pray:
God, who gave Moses the Law on tablets of stone, please write your character and will on my heart so I might be a living stone, testifying to your righteousness and grace. Help me to think more carefully about how my neighbours feel before I act or react to them today! Through your Son I pray. Amen.
Words of Wisdom
Life’s energy is what you make it…
Anyone who knows the basics of sailing can manoeuvre their boat to the desired destination, regardless of the wind direction. The ability to adjust the sails appropriately, and the amount of wind, is of far greater importance than the wind’s direction.
Winners and achievers in life know how to use all of life’s energy – the tail winds AND the head winds – to move ahead toward goal achievement. Fear gives us the heightened sense of awareness necessary for taking on difficult situations. Challenges give us superb opportunities for learning and growing. Setbacks and obstacles strengthen our resolve and determination. That is, if we decide to take them that way.
You can’t control the wind, but you can control how to set your sails. And you can’t control what life hands you, but you have complete control over what you do with it. Fear, setbacks, obstacles, and challenges can easily blow you off course – or they can supply the energy to propel you ahead. It all depends on you.
