Today’s reading: Romans 13:8-10; Matthew 4:3-4

 “Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”

Romans 13:10

Jesus gives a new command: “Love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another” (John 13:34). This goes right along with what He had previously commanded: “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31).

These are great verses for us to remember, especially as we read in Paul’s letter to the Roman Christians about how love is the fulfilling of the law. The answer to all our world’s problems is that we love more. The more we share love, the more we will see a difference in our world.

But let’s not forget this one thing. We cannot fulfill the law. It’s not our love or our loving of others that saves us, much less that fulfills the law. What does?

In his first epistle, the Apostle John says, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love” (1 John 4:7).

That last line…let’s take another look at it, “because God is love.” Yes! Now you’re seeing what I am seeing! Love is the fulfillment of the law because God is love! God is the fulfillment of the law! And how did He do this? “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

Indeed! God fulfils the law with love because He is love. He demonstrates this by sending His Son Jesus into this world to be our Savior. God loves us so we can love others! “We love because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:19

Prayer:

God, thank You for fulfilling the Law for me with Yourself. Thank You for fulfilling the Law for me with Love.

Contributed by Rev. Andrew Bartholomew