Dear Friend,
Psalms 15:1-5 says, “Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent? Who may live on your holy mountain? The one whose walk is blameless, who does what is righteous, who speaks truth from their heart; whose tongue utters no slander, who does no wrong to a neighbor, and casts no slur on others; who despises a vile person but honors those who fear the Lord; who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and does not change their mind; who lends money to the poor without interest; who does not accept a bribe against the innocent. Whoever does these things will never be shaken.” When God takes first place in our lives, our minds and hearts are geared towards loving others well. This means being consistent and unmovable, with our minds and hearts set on a higher purpose than ourselves. It means speaking truth even when it hurts us and fulfilling our promises even when it’s hard. It means giving to people less fortunate than yourself and not expecting anything in return. When we allow the Holy Spirit to shape us into such men and women, no trial or hardship will overwhelm us. The firmest foundation for life is built on the fear and honor of the Lord. When we honor the Lord by treating others with respect, love and integrity, we fulfill both of the greatest laws. Jesus Christ is the only one who can claim to fulfill these two laws perfectly.
Paul, originally one of the greatest opponents to the early church, wrote 13 out of 27 books in the New Testament. He was radically forgiven his sins and became one of the greatest missionaries for Christ. In his letter to the church in Rome, Paul breaks down how belief in Jesus as Christ should change the way we treat others. Romans 12:9-21 says, “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap
burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” These commands help shape a community built on loving God and loving others. These commands describe what love looks like when acted out. When we live as described in this passage, we imitate Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. Jesus acted out complete love for God and others when he died and was resurrected for believers. Paul describes what love in action looks like for the church in Rome. A community that acts out these commands would look vastly different from what the secular world expects.
On October 2nd 2006. A tragedy struck the West Nickel Mines Amish community in Pennsylvania. Charles Roberts IV murdered 8 out of 10 hostage school girls, then committed suicide. This sounds like yet another awful tragedy and mass shooting, but the most remarkable event occurred soon after the incident. The Amish community extended forgiveness and love to the family of the shooter. Their response of forgiveness caused national attention, as this community radically displayed love to the family of their enemy. This Amish community loved with their actions, they cared for their enemies, they proved their love for God and others. This is a radical example of a community that is following the two great commandments in the Bible. Here are some ways you can work on practicing loving God and loving others.
Look at your habits and how you use your time. Is spending time in prayer and reading the Bible part of your daily routine? Think about different ways you can develop stronger habits of prayer and time in God’s Word. Loving God with all that you are assumes you are giving Him your time, as well. Habits are good markers for what you really value in life. The excuse, “I just don’t have time for that,” isn’t really true. You always have time for what you value most.
Look at your relationships and how you treat others regularly. Sometimes you may need to ask for honest critique from friends and family. Are you treating strangers with the same respect that you hope to receive from them? Reflecting on how you treat others exposes where you need to work most on loving others. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)
Yours in Christ,
ChrisRice