March 3

March 3

The 10 Commandments -- Love fulfills the law & the implication of breaking one law.

Today's Readings:

Reading 1: Exodus 20

Reading 2: Romans 13:8-10

Reading 3: James 2:8-11

Today we see the giving of the ten commandments to Moses. These are the instructions for this covenant community from the one who is making the covenant. This is not a laundry list of requirements to achieve, instead, it is a revelation of God's nature and heart to the people He has chosen to love.

The instructions make good sense in light of the imperfections caused by sin, and in light of God's unilateral & unconditional choice of Israel as the people He would bless, lead, and prosper.

Paul shows us in Romans that the only way to fulfill the requirements of these covenant commandments is through love, and love comes only from God. So God gives us what we need to fulfill His commandments and thus reflect His nature.

Paul gives us a way to summarize these requirements in one principle: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” He also adds, by way of explanation: "Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law."

James repeats the summary, with the additional caution that keeping all but one law is just as bad as breaking all of them - in other words, we are still dependent on grace and cannot rely on our own righteousness.

So we are heirs of the promises made to Israel and the church. We are chosen for love. We are like Jesus - the people who will be known by their love, and thus fulfill the law.

Have a great day!

Mark.