Author: Valerie Reiman
Reading:
Romans 13:8 NRSV - “Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.”
Romans 13:8 The Message - “Don’t run up debts, except for the huge debt of love you owe one another. When you love others, you complete what the law has been after all along.”
Love! Love is one of those words we hear all the time. “I love pizza.” “I love this show.” “I love _____” (insert any sports team, an actor/actress, a singer, etc.). This isn’t the kind of love Paul is talking about. This kind of love doesn’t cost us anything. It makes love seem easy and uncomplicated. But if we’re honest, this kind of love means very little.
The kind of love Paul talks about makes me think about the golden rule “Treat others how you want to be treated.” It’s so much easier to flip that and think I’ll treat them how they treat me. But that’s not what we’re called to do. We are called to love intentionally and wholeheartedly the “others” in our lives.
So today, intentionally look for ways to show love to your family and friends, the co-worker who annoys you, the clerk at your grocery store, the server at your favorite restaurant, etc.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, You pour out Your love on us every day. Help us to see opportunities to share that love with everyone we meet! Show us when and where we aren’t acting in love and give us the courage to change. Thank you, Lord, for Your grace and forgiveness. Amen!