Acts of Love, Where They Start and Stop
For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them.
Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.
These seem like two spread out scriptures, but they are right around the edges of a huge parenthesis section where Paul veers off his topic and then comes back to love and obedience. These keep in the same tone as yesterday’s reading and Bret’s statement that “Jesus’ love language is obedience.”
Righteousness through the Law, through obedience to commandments, has been taken away by Christ’s death on the cross. We no longer are considered righteous in the eyes of God (as if any of us ever were – right?) by our actions and good deeds. NOW a righteousness from God has appeared that is given and received by faith in Jesus Christ. Out of reaction, gratitude, and as a response to that grace, we obey Jesus.
I am not considered my wife’s husband because I pick up the dinner dishes whenever she asks. I am my wife’s husband because I’ve committed myself to love her with a covenantal love into perpetuity. Out of that love, I pick up the dinner dishes. When it’s one of our kids’ birthday or an anniversary or if the sun or moon is shining and I’m stirred with extra passionate love for her, I want to serve her even more.
That is what the Christian life is like. That is what Jesus meant when He said, “If you love me, you’ll obey my commands.” In the very next section, He commanded all of the disciples to love one another. As we grow in love for the Church and her people, we more passionately desire to serve and love one another. That’s why we send notes or gift cards or mow a brother’s grass or give side-hugs. As love for Christ increases, our love for one another increases and manifests itself in action.
Don’t do anything today. Start by loving Jesus. Pray that your love for Jesus would increase. As that happens, you’ll be like a boiler building up pressure. In that culture, church announcements aren’t about trying to get people to do things, but about giving them opportunities to be unstoppable.
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