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Friday, August 30
Romans 13:8-14
Romans 13:8 Don't run up debts, except for the huge debt of love you owe each other. When you love others, you complete what the law has been after all along.
:9 The law code - don't sleep with another person's spouse, don't take someone's life, don't take what isn't yours, don't always be wanting what you don't have, and any other "don't" you can think of - finally adds up to this: Love other people as well as you do yourself.
:10 You can't go wrong when you love others. When you add up everything in the law code, the sum total is love.
:11 But make sure that you don't get so absorbed and exhausted in taking care of all your day-by-day obligations that you lose track of the time and doze off, oblivious to God.
:12 The night is about over, dawn is about to break. Be up and awake to what God is doing! God is putting the finishing touches on the salvation work he began when we first believed.
:13 We can't afford to waste a minute, must not squander these precious daylight hours in frivolity and indulgence, in sleeping around and dissipation, in bickering and grabbing everything in sight.
:14 Get out of bed and get dressed! Don't loiter and linger, waiting until the very last minute. Dress yourselves in Christ, and be up and about!
Romans 13:8 Don't run up debts, except for the huge debt of love you owe each other. When you love others, you complete what the law has been after all along.
:9 The law code - don't sleep with another person's spouse, don't take someone's life, don't take what isn't yours, don't always be wanting what you don't have, and any other "don't" you can think of - finally adds up to this: Love other people as well as you do yourself.
:10 You can't go wrong when you love others. When you add up everything in the law code, the sum total is love.
:11 But make sure that you don't get so absorbed and exhausted in taking care of all your day-by-day obligations that you lose track of the time and doze off, oblivious to God.
:12 The night is about over, dawn is about to break. Be up and awake to what God is doing! God is putting the finishing touches on the salvation work he began when we first believed.
:13 We can't afford to waste a minute, must not squander these precious daylight hours in frivolity and indulgence, in sleeping around and dissipation, in bickering and grabbing everything in sight.
:14 Get out of bed and get dressed! Don't loiter and linger, waiting until the very last minute. Dress yourselves in Christ, and be up and about!
Question 3,5
Is there any command for me to obey?
Is there any warning for me to heed?
LOVE FULFILLS THE LAW
We can never finish loving one another, so the debt of love continues (v.8). Jesus summarised the Law as loving God absolutely, and loving neighbours as oneself (Matt. 22:37-40). We never plan to offend or harm those we love. Loving God is a greater motivation than obeying commands. A rich young man came to Jesus and left sad because, despite his vast wealth and religious devotion, he could not share such riches with the poor and needy around him (Matthew 19:16-24).
Can Africans learn this lesson? True love will silence the guns of violent and bitter conflict across the continent faster than political detente or military intervention.
Land and chieftaincy tussles, ethnic rivalry, slavery, child marriages, oppression and exploitation will give way to peace. This kind of love results from a transformed life.
You can also read: What a Beautiful Word "Love"
You can also read: What a Beautiful Word "Love"
Check the time we are in (v. 11-12a) and the implications for us (v. 12b-13). What practical advice is there for us in v.14? Literally, this means: "Wearing Jesus Christ just as you would wear a dress" and giving no room at all for the sinful nature to operate in your life.
And so: Don't go about naked, exposing the sinful nature. Clothe yourself with Jesus Christ and pray that you would never have to put him off for any reason.
A YEAR READING PLAN
Psalm 21-25
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