Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law. Romans 13:8
What will be the character of our lives? This is the question that we have been asking all week. In our Bible study together, we have been asking what we want to be known for, but perhaps the most important has yet to be discussed. You see, of all the things we can carry and be known for, Scripture teaches that the greatest is love (1 Corinthians 13:13). To be known for our love for God and our love for people is perhaps the greatest legacy we could ever lead for our children and for the rest of the world.
The apostle Paul spoke about the importance of living with love. “Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law” (Romans 13:8). According to Paul, followers of Christ have an obligation to love other people. This means that love is not a recommendation or suggestion; it is an obligation. As followers of Christ, we are called, even obligated, to love God and everyone around us, each and every person. This, my friends, is perhaps the defining characteristic of our lives.
At the end of the day, when your character is described, would people describe you as a person with unflinching love for God and people? This is our obligation. Throughout all of Scripture, God makes it clear that followers of Christ are to love God with everything in them. He wants to be the center of our love. He also makes it clear that His people are to love others around them. This includes you and me. May you and I take on this obligation and have an infectious love for God and each and every person He created.
There is no greater thing that we can be known for than our love. Take some time to ask trusted people in your life how you are doing loving God and people. Ask your children this question too. Ask them areas that are going well and areas that need improvement. Ask them to reveal blind spots in your life that you might not see. Then, commit to growing and learning in this area and becoming a person who is known for your character and how you love. One of the most loving things you can do is to invite a friend to church. We hope to see you this weekend!
Read Romans 13:8-14 (NLT)
Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law. For the commandments say, “You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.” These—and other such commandments—are summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law.
This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.
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