Romans 13:8-14

“Love fulfills the requirements of God’s Law.”

Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law. (Romans 13:10, NLT)

Paul is echoing Jesus’ words from Mark 12:28-34. A teacher asked Jesus what is the most important commandment? Jesus answered: “Listen, O Israel the Lord Our God is the one and only Lord. And you must Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.  The second is equally important: Love Your neighbor as yourself. No other commandment is greater than these.”

In the rest of Romans 13:11-14, Paul reminds us that in light of this we need to wake up and really live this out. We live in a dark world that desperately needs us to be a light of love and conquer the darkness. Verse 14, “… clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.” In other words, you are needed to stand out against the darkness and shine the love of Jesus.

Lord, for the sake of those who need me; help me shake off the temptations of darkness and let your holy love light shine through me to illuminate the path for others.

– The Rev. Stephen C. Floyd, First Church of the Nazarene