A Journey Through Romans

Romans 13:8-10

“Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments, "You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not covet"; and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, "Love your neighbour as yourself." Love does no wrong to a neighbour; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.”

The following excerpt was originally published in  Fred Beuchner’s Whistling in the Dark  and later in  Beyond Words:

When Jesus comes along saying that the greatest command of all is to love God and to love our neighbour, he too is asking us to pay attention. If we are to love God, we must first stop, look, and listen for him in what is happening around us and inside us. If we are to love our neighbours, before doing anything else we must see our neighbours. With our imagination as well as our eyes, that is to say like artists, we must see not just their faces, but the life behind and within their faces. Here it is love that is the frame we see them in.

In today’s reading Paul , "Owe nobody anything." It seems a thing almost unnecessary to say; but there were some who even twisted the petition of the Lord's Prayer, "Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors," into a reason for claiming absolution from all money obligations. Paul had to remind his people that Christianity is not an excuse for refusing our obligations to our neighbours, whoever they are; it is a reason for fulfilling them to the utmost.

There is a famous saying, "Love God--and do what you like." If love is the mainspring of our hearts, if our whole live are dominated by love for God and love for our neighbour, we needs no other law.

A Prayer

When we hold out our hands to be cuffed by loneliness, you clasp our wrists
to pull us into your heart. When our lives are shattered by the injustices done to those passed over by the world, your love puts us back together, so we can serve them with your hope. Emancipating God, we praise you!

When we would build walls between us and our neighbours, you come to be the welcoming gate. When we would curse someone who has hurt us in our souls, you sing us songs of blessing. When we would focus only on our needs and our desires, you hand us the dinnerware  and ask us to set the Table. Ever-near Salvation, we would follow you!

When we would feed on  our bitter brokenness, you would offer us  the Bread of reconciliation. When we would grasp  the Cup of peace,  and drink it to the last drop, you whisper, 'offer some to those you don't like.' Liberating Spirit, we would be filled with you! Amen