God's Mission
Romans 13:10
Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
~Apostle Paul
Pondering Point
Yesterday we mentioned the spirit of the law. To grasp the spirit of the law is not merely about how to handle being wronged. We want to be able to recognize the Holy Spirit behind every law. In Romans 13:9, Paul cites an abridged version of the Ten Commandments and then acknowledges that all laws are summed up in one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself". He followed up with the words: "love does no harm to a neighbor". Our problem is that we too easily set aside love when wronged by a neighbor and mentally move to vengeance or retribution on that neighbor. The goal Jesus has, and Paul too, is that we love all the time – even in situations where applying consequences is appropriate. How can we make sure that we do not quit loving because someone has wronged us?
Prayer
Father God, I want to live in such a way that Your love is the primary motivator in my life. I don't want my love for others to be derailed by the way they treat me. I want to learn to love enemies like Jesus loved enemies; I want to learn to forgive like You forgave; I want to fulfill the spirit of the law as You desire in my life. Amen.
What Jesus Means by “Turn the Other Cheek” (Podcast)
In Matthew 5:38-42, Jesus offers wisdom from the Torah about retaliation, justice, and nonviolent resistance to injustice. He references a series of laws in Exodus 21, Leviticus 24, and Deuteronomy 19, all of which contain the familiar language of “eye for eye, tooth for tooth.” Jesus reveals the surprising wisdom within these laws, using real-life scenarios that would have been familiar to oppressed Israelites living under Roman occupation: turning the other cheek, giving your cloak, and going the extra mile.
https://bibleproject.com/podcast/what-jesus-means-turn-other-cheek/
Micro-Meditation
Psalm 119: Immersed in the Word of God
Micro-Meditation
Psalm 119:41-48 6th letter: Waw (ו)
- May your unfailing love come to me, Lord,
your salvation, according to your promise; - then I can answer anyone who taunts me,
for I trust in your word. - Never take your word of truth from my mouth,
for I have put my hope in your laws. - I will always obey your law,
for ever and ever. - I will walk about in freedom,
for I have sought out your precepts. - I will speak of your statutes before kings
and will not be put to shame, - for I delight in your commands
because I love them. - I reach out for your commands, which I love,
that I may meditate on your decrees.
Read the versus of the Psalm.
Mark the words or phrases that catch your attention.
Meditate: talk (or better, write) with God about those words. Ask him to impress things upon your heart and mind; expect responses.
Teaching or Command of God
James 4:11
Do not slander one another.
The Promise
Isaiah 59:21
My Spirit, who is on you, will not depart from you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will always be on your lips, on the lips of your children and on the lips of their descendants—from this time on and forever.
Pondering Point
This part of Psalm 119 uses these words to describe interaction with God’s Word: Delight, freedom, hope, love, and trust. Which one most connects with you?