ROMANS 13:9

“For this, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, YOU SHALL NOT MURDER, YOU SHALL NOT STEAL, YOU SHALL NOT COVET,’ and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’”

How we treat others is evidence of our faith walk. If we live our lives for ourselves disregarding the effect it has on others, I am not sure we are true believers. You have heard people say, “Well, that’s just the way God made me,” to try to justify a negative behavior. That is just a lie from the pit of hell. Excuse my bluntness. But we are told in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”

Paul sums up the commandments he listed from Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5 which have to do with how we treat others. Remember the first four commandments are the vertical commands as they relate to us and God. The remaining six commands are horizontal dealing with others. Paul claims all six can be summed up by Leviticus 19:18 which reads, “You shall not take vengeance, nor hold any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD.”

APPLICATION

Paul uses an accounting term which would have been very recognizable to his readers. The Greek word for “summed up” is a cool word, anakephalaíomai. It is used here and in Ephesians 1:10 where Paul writes, “to bring all things together in Christ.” It means to “sum up all the parts as a comprehensive (organized) whole.” (HELPS Word-studies).

All the commands about the horizontal relationships are accomplished as we love our neighbors. For instance, you can’t commit adultery and say you love your neighbor as God does. You surely can’t murder them or steal from them. Even coveting something others have reflects a lack of love for others. Man, this is heavy stuff, isn’t it? But it really quite simple. Love others as God loves them, and you fulfill the law regarding others.

Is there someone you need to love better? Is there someone you have wronged? Make that right. Seek to love them with the love that resides in you as a follower of Christ. Keep your old self dead. It has no place in your life anymore. I didn’t say this was easy. The devil will tempt us all to lash out or show our ugly side. But just remember – Christ resides within you through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. Now go love well today.

I will choose today to love my neighbor as myself.

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