Receive the Gift

After last week’s post, let me clarify that just because we are free from judgment by the law, it does not mean that the law is no longer important. Let me remind you of what Jesus said about this:

"Don't misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose." Matthew 5:17

Paul has more to say about this in His letter to the Galatians:
“For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”” - Galatians 5:13-14

Love fulfills the law, freeing us from its merciless grip and the temptation to think we can be perfect on our own. Read carefully, it's not our own love that fulfills the law, but the perfect love of God. It's only when we allow ourselves to be filled with His love and watch it overflow in our lives. Don't be mistaken, our imperfect love, without Jesus, is powerless to fulfill the law. That's why Jesus came.

"When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus." - Romans 6:10

He gave us His love as a gift. We only have to receive it and steward it well.

It’s a GIFT - not earned. You can’t win it, and you can’t work hard enough to deserve it. That’s why the bible highlights the least likely people to be recognized. The ones that are striving for it don’t understand, but the ones who are suffering and see the depth of their need, they recognize the value of the gift. In a way, it is dishonoring to try to work for it. That de-values the gift.

"Jesus answered them, "Healthy people don't need a doctor - sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent."" - Matthew 5:31-32

Living in God’s love changes our hearts so that we desire to live the way he leads us. Loving others selflessly. When we live this way, we have no laws binding us because we don’t need them.

"The Lord your God will change your heart and the hearts of all your descendants, so that you will love Him with all your heart and soul and so you may live!" - Deuteronomy 30:6

HALLELUJAH! This make me want to dance and sing for JOY!

Notice where this verse came from - the Law. God's love was written into the law since the beginning! We just needed the help of our savior to fulfill its requirements so we could receive the love.

And that's where we're going next week. Just in case you're still convinced that love and law are opposing forces, we're going to look at some abundant proof that the law was written in love, and the two actually go hand in hand.

Until next week, Live Loved!