Sunday: The Law of Love
Daily Lesson for Sunday 23rd of March 2025
God’s law does not consist of abstract principles; instead, God’s law is an expression of relationship. This can be seen explicitly in the Ten Commandments. The basic principles of the Ten Commandments were in place already in the Garden of Eden, the principles of love that were to govern the relationship between God and people and between people themselves.
The Ten Commandments
When the Ten Commandments proclaimed in Exodus 20:1-26 were afterward written in stone, they were given to Israel in the context of the covenant relationship. The commandments were written down after the Lord already had delivered the people from Egypt, and the commandments were based on God’s love and on His promises to the nation (see Exodus 6:7-8 and Leviticus 26:12). One can see in the two divisions of the Ten Commandments that they are aimed at the flourishing of a human relationship with God and of relationships with one another.
Read Exodus 20:1-17. How do these verses reveal the two principles, those of love for God and of love for others?
The first four commandments deal with people’s relationships with God, and the last six with people’s relationships among themselves. Our relationship both to God and to other people must be regulated by the principles of God’s law.
These two parts of the law correspond directly to what Jesus identified as the two greatest commandments—“ ‘ “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart” ’ ” (Matthew 22:37, NKJV; compare with Deuteronomy 6:5) and “ ‘ “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” ’ ” (Matthew 22:39, NKJV; compare with Leviticus 19:18).
The first four commandments are the ways in which we are to love God with all of our being, and the last six are ways we are to love one another as ourselves. Jesus makes it explicit that these two great love commandments are integrally related to the law. “ ‘On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets’ ” (Matthew 22:40, NKJV).
The entirety of God’s law, then, is grounded in God’s love. God’s love and law are inseparable. We often hear people say, We don’t need to keep the law, we just need to love God and to love others. Why does that idea not make sense?
|
How could we express love to God, or love to others, if we are violating any one of the Ten Commandments? |
(11)
A lot of our discussion on this forum sounds like a brain exercise. We write words, discuss semantics, dissect phrases, provide analogies, and invoke AI ghost-writers to find better ways of talking about God's love. In the end we have several thousand comments, lots of "amens", and a horizon of probably 700 readers who in a couple of weeks will have forgotten what we have said.
Love is not a mental exercise. In the context of a sin affected world (that's the only bit of the battle we can see and experience) God's love and indeed existence has been called into question. For the two millennia of the Christian era, much of Christianity has been characterised by self-seeking power-politics; the very antithesis of God's love. The proof that the secular world needs from believers today is that God loves them. And that is only going to happen if we show love to them.
I know I have repeated this many times:
... but if we cannot get this bit right, we are not really spreading the Gospel.
Avondale University had its "Festival of Faith" this last week. I was unable to attend the service yesterday but I heard that during the week, the students worked with the local community on projects. The church service yesterday went overtime as students excitedly reported on their experience. Their faith is getting exercised in the right place
That is faith in action; not a talkfest of devotional phrases but love acting in the place where it counts.
Ellen White lived in Cooranbong and during that time wrote "The Desire of Ages". She was also known for going around the district and helping destitute timbercutters and subsistence farmers. She lived an example of unselfish love in what was then a remote bush village in Australia. I am thankful that some of that example has filtered down to the students of Avondale 125 years later.
God's love is practical!
Love is the kingpin that holds God’s law (the Ten Commandments) together. Love is the underlying purpose of God’s law. The law of love existed before Adam and Eve fell into sin. It was to govern all of God’s creation. Even angels in heaven comply with this law. Lucifer repelled against this law (Ezekiel 28:15-16, 1 John 3:4). After sin entered the world, the law of love became even more profoundly essential. The law of love has enormous practical significance in this life here on earth.
1. The observance of the law of love leads to fair actions and avoids doing deeds that are harmful to others. An employer who values the law of love treats his employees fairly, pays fair wages, and provides a respectful workplace. The law of love promotes ethical decision-making. "Love does no harm to a neighbour. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law” (Romans 13:10).
2. The observance of the law of love promotes peace and harmony. At the center of all human relationships is love. Love is patient, kind, respectful, and humble. We need all these to foster peace and harmony in the world today. "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger" (Proverbs 15:1).
3. Observance of the law of love strengthens relationships. Family and marriage relationships are built on the principles of love (kindness, patience, forgiveness, respect, reconciliation, empathy, and friendship). "Bear with each other and forgive one another... And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." (Colossians 3:13-14).
4. Observance of the law of love encourages service to mankind. Those who value the law of love are moved to acts of kindness and serving others. The law of love promotes generosity, selflessness, compassion, and sacrifice.
5. The observance of the law of love promotes emotional and mental well-being. Loving and being loved brings a sense of emotional security which reduces stress, anxiety, and depression. This law promotes reconciliation, joy, and hope. "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." (Proverbs 17:22)
6. The observance of the law of love builds societies that are more just, inclusive, and stable (Micah 6:8).
By living in accordance with the law of love, we not only demonstrate the will of God in our lives but also contribute to a more compassionate, just, fairer, peaceful, and caring world.
"Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life." (Revelation 22:14)
Today I read the Outlook. It is our union paper in the mid- west. The article that caught my eye, is titled "The Bible and The Bible Only", by our president of the MId-America Union, Elder Gary Thurber. I was expecting by the title that he would be talking about what Ellen White said on the topic. To my pleasant surprise he did not. Rather he told of a personal story emphasizing the fact that we should not be judgmental of fringe beliefs of our fellow members. "Let us be kind, gentle to those who might have a different point of view than we do." He also gave the history, and explanation of our 28 beliefs as a whole, and a scholarly foundation of our beliefs importance in holding us as Seventh-day Adventist together. If you are in the MId-America Union, I trust you will pick up your Outlook Magazine for April and read the article. You will be blessed.
How does this apply to The Law of Love. Sounds like to me that our leaders love us. In reciprocation we love them. Does the law of love require reciprocal love. I do believe so.
I have to ask, which leaders love us? God loves us, I agree, and that love is reciprocated.
Christian apologist Josh McDowell coined the phrase, "rules without a relationship, lead to rebellion." It's true! The "rules" don't confine a relationship they actually set the boundaries of appropriate interaction between man and man, and man and God. They safeguard and protect the relationship. However, if that is the only thing defining the relationship, then rebellion or breaking of the rules is bound to happen. The reason that Adam & Eve disobeyed is because they didn't love God enough to simply obey. The enemy played on Eve's naivety and caused her to question God's motive for prohibiting the eating of the forbidden fruit. We need to get to the point of, "God said it, I believe it, that settles it." Why do we believe it? Because we know that God loves us, and we in return love him because of his great love.
Jesus said in John 14:15, "If you love me, keep my commandments." Notice what he didn't say. He didn't say, "If you want to go to heaven, keep my commandments. " Neither did he say, "if you don't want to go to hell, keep my commandments. " Love must be the motivating factor as it is the only factor that will empower a person to willingly obey.
I don't stay faithful to my wife because the commandment says do not commit adultery. No, I am faithful to my wife because I love her, not because of how much it will cost me if I don't remain faithful. No, my love for her and hers for me empowers me because I wouldn't want to hurt her for that reason.
That same motivation should drive our desire to obey God's "rules." In fact, when it does, when we have a New Covenant experience with God, we will delight to keep his commandments. Then, they will no longer be rules or commandments. They will become promises of God. Because we love God with all our hearts, we will not have other God's before him, etcetera. Because we love our neighbor as ourselves (we really do love ourselves, often more than anyone else, even God), we will not want to do anything that would harm or violate them, any more than we would want it done to us. Romans 13:8-10 so perfectly sums it up.
"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8 & John 3:16 shows the depth of God’s love for humanity. Love awakens love, and therefore "we love because he first loved us." 1 John 4:19 Friends, this is why we should want God's law of love written on our hearts.
It's all about love, it always was, and will be. No one will be saved because they were afraid of hell, but because they loved God, and they loved him enough to obey him. It's really the furthest thing from legalism. Legalism is doing the right thing for the wrong reason. It's all about love!
This is all fine and making sense. However, the last paragraph of Sunday's lesson pose a question for us to ponder.
The idea that we only need to love God and others, without keeping God's law, doesn’t make sense because God's law and love are inseparable. The law provides practical guidance on how to express love in real, tangible ways. As the lesson points out, Jesus summarized the law into two commandments: love God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37-40). These two principles encompass the entire law, showing that keeping the law is how we demonstrate love.
Without the law, "love" becomes subjective, leaving us uncertain of what loving behavior truly looks like in God's eyes. The law defines love by guiding our actions, helping us avoid harm, honor God, and live in harmony.
Therefore, to truly love God and others, we follow His commandments. Love without this guidance can lead to self-defined interpretations, with each person doing what seems right in their own eyes.
A quote from an old rocker, Jimi Hendrix...When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace.
After reading Exodus 20:1-17, I was impressed by verse 2 which says "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage." After about 400 years of bondage I wonder how much knowledge of God the children of Israel still retained. But God reached into their bondage and rescued them despite whatever spiritual condition they were in at that time. This is the God of love who took the initiative to deliver them and enroll them into His 40 year curriculum of learning about Him, and learning how to love Him in return. Perhaps the moral law could be thought of as the syllabus.
Thank you so much for highlighting Ex.20:2, Ron! It adds meaning for me to what I was noticing and sharing in my post (see below). That keeping His commandments is what God does in us and for us when permitted. This verse 2 is the prelude to the 10 Laws where God reminds us, "I am the One who brought you out of slavery in Egypt, I am the One who brings you out of slavery to sin. It's not something you do for yourself. My moral code that I'm about to share with you, written in stone to remain for all time, is something that will become a part of you as you cling to Me, and as it becomes a part of the fleshy tables of your heart (2 Cor. 3:3-5 KJV; Phil. 2:13 KJV), your transformation of character and freedom from sin will reveal My power and glory and gracious acts done in your favor." This is such an important verse to embrace before hearing/reading the 10 Commandments!
Sometimes we get used to thinking that the 10 Moral Laws of God are commands of what not to do. "Do not kill, do not steal, do not engage in adultery", etc. The Bible does frame these as "thou shalt not"....but when Jesus summarizes them with "love God and love your neighbor" I think He is inviting us to also think of them as positives of what TO do. Love is a positive action in favor of God and other people, not simply omitting harm and offense. We can define something by what it is not, but we can really expand our understanding when looking at what it is.
So in this light, I would like to go through the list of 10 (in Ex. 20:3-17) and take a moment with each, digesting what is written, and then expanding and framing them as a picture of God's character, and asking what positive mindset and action God would have me take....
(1) Thou shalt not have other gods ..... God wants me to desire only Him. To be fully satisfied by Him. Nobody else and nothing else to fill that place of deepest hunger for intimacy and total communion with my mind-body-spirit. I run to God first when I am aware of my needs for connection.
(2) Thou shalt not worship anything you see ... Nothing I see, "the lust of the eyes" (1 John 2:16), nothing made with man's hands provides for my deepest needs or fulfills me. God takes full care of me. I bow only to God and thank Him throughout my days, seeing Him, only, as my Everything. My whole world.
(3) Thou shalt not misuse the name of the Lord your God....so I will not curse, swear, use magic, manipulate, lie, deceive, or do harm in the name of being a Christian. Instead, I see God's name as above all others, as a description of His beautiful character. I reverence God's name and character and do everything I can to guard it and our relationship. I call upon God's name, only, when in trouble. I won't depend upon myself while wearing Christ's name. I will wear the garment of Him and His name, not my own (Is. 4:1). I pray, praise and give thanks to His "hallowed name" (Matt. 6:9).
(4) Remember the 7th day Sabbath to keep it holy ... I delight in spending time with God in a special way on this special day. Our "date" day. I guard each Saturday from interruptions from secular life, from distractions of working for my daily bread-and-butter. It's just God and me, and the family of God, and those encounters He brings us for acts of mercy. I remember on this day, especially, that I am a created being, dependent upon God, and that He alone is worthy of my allegiance and worship.
(5) Honor your father and your mother ... honor, love and cherish those who have given me life and care for my elderly parents (Mark 7:11-13; 1 Tim. 5:3-4). Respect and find treasure in the family God has given me.
(6) Thou shalt not kill ... not even with anger or with words that demean like "idiot" and "fool" (Matt. 5:21-22). Respect other people's lives and hold them sacred as I do my own.
(7) Thou shalt not commit adultery ... lead a sexually pure life .... look at and speak of others only with thoughts of them being a sister or brother and child of our heavenly Father (Matt. 5:27-28). And husbands-wives are to love, honor and delight in the spouse and human intimacy God has provided ... and prioritize maintaining that lifelong bond.
(8) Thou shalt not steal ... I always have enough with what God has given me and I'm grateful and content with what God gifts and provisions. I have no need to take from anybody else or provide for myself in a dishonest way. God calls me to help my neighbor as myself which means to also improve and protect his/her possessions and income. There is no stepping on another to work one's way up a ladder of wealth and earthly power and prestige.
(9) Thou shalt not give false testimony against thy neighbor ... rather than hurt my neighbor's reputation, I will speak only well of him/her ("if you have nothing nice to say don't say it at all"), I will defend the other's honor, explain everything in the kindest way, speak truthfully but also well of associates God has placed in my life for a purpose. I won't tell lies about another, betray their confidences, but will seek to use my words to encourage, heal and uplift.
(10) Thou shalt not covet ... I fear and love God and so I do not scheme to get my neighbor's inheritance or belongings. In fact, I will help and be of service to my neighbor in keeping what they have, I will urge their spouse to be faithful rather than do anything to entice them away, I will encourage their circle of support to stay and do their duty rather than turning against, I will be of service to my neighbor. I will rejoice in the gifts God has poured into my life, and I will be happy for my neighbor's good fortune, too.
Now as with any list, albeit positive, it is overwhelming for me to think about performing this. Life experience shows me that constantly doing all these positive things is impossible using simply the tools of my own character. So my final thought is to me the most important. I think when God says "thou shalt not" He means more than "don't do". I think God is also saying, "when you are connected to Me, YOU WILL NOT do these things anymore". The "thou shalt not" is the imperfect tense meaning "you won't do this and this is not completed in you yet". These are promises of what God will do in me and for me if I invite Him to. In support of this interpretation, look at Judges 6:23. God appears to Gideon and tells him "thou shalt not die" because Gideon was afraid he would die having seen an angel face-to-face. God was not commanding Gideon not to do something. Rather, God was telling Gideon what would happen based on God's goodwill towards him. "Don't worry - thou shalt not die." It was God's promise to Gideon. Just so, I think the 10 Commandments are God making a promise to us of what He WILL DO for us in sanctifying our characters.
Thank You, our loving Lord God. Amen - let it be so.
The Law: "Given to us to know how to live the Love of God.” Yes, indeed — ’keeping my commandments shows me that you love Me; therefore keep living my commandments’! - John 14:15-31.
The written Law was given to the children of Israel to reveal what their new God considers right and wrong. It served then, as it does now, as a guide to help us understand how to love and honor our heavenly Father, and includes the promise that He would reward those who love Him - James 1:12.
Jesus did not leave believers on their own in the pursuit of righteousness, providingd our new nature the guidance of the Holy Spirit. He is able to reveal God's Will in each moment — guiding us to navigate the complexities of life with wisdom and discernment.
I consider the Law’s first four instructions/guidelines to be the powerful foundation on which God’s Love toward us rests – expecting of us to love Him exclusively. This is the spiritual foundation from/in which our new nature is able to embrace the remaining six to guide our actions as we express our love for our fellow man.
I wholeheartedly agree: “God’s Love and His Law are inseparable”. Offering us to embrace our new nature, our heavenly Father has gone to great lengths to enable us to walk in His Way of Righteousness.
Though, this new nature cannot grow apart from continously receiving His Love and expressing it! Experiencing His Love moves us to love others in return. We entrust our new nature to Him with gratitude and humility, believing that He desires our best – Gal.5:22-23; 1 Cor.13:13.
When love is the principle, all things come together and make sense. When love is the basis for a relationship, even though human beings are limited and may fall short, bonds will last forever.
I have come to an understanding that me and my wife are two different persons, God's love requires that doe my wife and i may disagree on some matters, because of all the reasons we can fine to give ,God's love says you two humans beains can't hate or be unkind to each other,
I have learnt that as a child of God I must take the WORD OF THE WRITEN PAGES of the book as written personally to me and not a set of dead men of old because right here ,right now iam living ,there are dead,which means it me that has to prove that God is right by my heart full life of and by his son,
All need to take the Bible out of past doing and make it a present doing in our behaviors, so we can and will be save for His kingdom