Romans 13:10 Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
Both times love is used in today’s verse, we are again using the Greek agape. Paul speaks of love as being perfect, whole, and unconditional. God’s love is beyond perfect, beyond whole, and unconditional doesn’t describe just how much He loves us. We simply cannot comprehend how immense and all consuming His love truly is.
And we are told to love others as Christ has loved us. Christ died for us because He loved us and didn’t want us to be separated eternally. He gave His life, sacrificed Himself on the cross so that we could have life. My love for others is nowhere near the level of love that Christ has given me… yet that is what we are called to do.
Paul says that perfect love, whole and unconditional agape love, does not harm to a neighbor. Neighbor in this case is not describing the family that inhabits the home next to you, but anyone you encounter, anyone you come in contact with. My neighbor can be a coworker, a friend, the mom at the grocery store struggling with the overtired, crank baby… When we show them love, we show that we are Christ-like and care, even if we don’t know them. We extend His love to them, and His love is perfect and does no harm.
Love is the fulfillment of the law. We were told to love the Lord our God with all our hearts, all our minds, all our souls (Matthew 22;37)… and to love others as ourselves (Mark 12:31). We love them as Christ loved us (John 13:34). These commands were given by Christ and they are the fulfillment of the law. When we act in love, we are doing what He has called us to do.
Today let’s stop and look for ways we can love others. There is always someone in need and we can show them kindness and love with simple actions. Look around. They are out there.
Prayer: Lord, Help me to show love to others and fulfill the law with my actions. Let me do it not because You said to but because I want to. I want to love people like You do. Amen
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