Love Does No Harm

Romans 13:8-14

Love does no harm to its neighbor. Romans 13:10 (NIV)

When I first studied this passage another horrific child slaying had occurred in Florida. She was killed, thrown in a dumpster, and found in a landfill. Love does no harm! Anyone who could do such an evil act is without love. Parents who beat their children are without love. Spouses who abuses the other are without love. Those who have addictions do not have love for themselves. Love does not harm! I could go on and on.

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. Romans 13:8 (NIV)

A lack of love will penetrate the soul. This happens when people leave the debt of love unpaid. Love fulfills the law. Jesus came to the earth to show us how to love again - how to love God, others, and ourselves.

God demonstrated love to mankind over and over. He pushed them out of the Garden so they would not eat from the tree of life (a very act that could have condemned man to eternal death). He kept a family alive in order to show them His mercy during the flood. He scattered men off a useless and dangerous tower. He set rules before those who listened called commandments; ten words from God to show us how to love. He saves men and women in hopes of re-establishing relationship with mankind.

Love does no harm. Love starts with God and emerges through us and ends when shown to others. Love becomes a cycle. As love seems to end when we give to others, it re-emerges from God to us to be given again.

Loving our neighbor as ourselves takes work.

• First, we have to know real love in order to love ourselves.
• Second, we need to genuinely love ourselves if we are ever to care for others.

We learn to love ourselves as we learn how much God loves us. We experience God's love when we accept what God did for us. We love ourselves when we become so overjoyed that we have to share the love God has placed within us with others.

I really like verses 11-14. Sinful pleasures overwhelm a person's ability to sense life. Sin dulls our ability to feel or express real love. Sin is a darkness that wraps around our hearts and minds while stealing life from us. When we truly experience God's love, it is like waking from a deep slumber. It's as if all the lights came on in that dark room. You are able to see things and experience life.

Orgies, drunkenness, sexual immorality, debauchery, dissension, and jealousy are a darkness that sears the soul. They punish us and destroy those around us. Love is missing because love doesn't harm. But Jesus came to draw near to us, to reassure us, to comfort us, to save us from this darkness, if we will only listen. He has shown us what light looks like and has shaken the darkness of night.

The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Romans 13:12 (NIV)

As Christians our duty is to spread the light and to do so requires us to live in this light. Don't spend time getting comfortable in sin in hopes that Jesus will keep coming to the rescue, however. As time draws to a close (verse 11:25), we must be all the more vigilant. Put away life choices that leave us in darkness, put on the armor of light (v. 12, Ephesians 6:11-18), and be a new creation sharing in the righteous life of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Colossians 3 would be a great place to start understanding this.

• What does the love of God mean to you?
• How are you acting out His love in your life?
• Are there any deeds in your life that you need to put away?