Do you wish to have no fear of the authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive its approval; for it is God's servant for your good. But if you do what is wrong, you should be afraid, for the authority does not bear the sword in vain! It is the servant of God to execute wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be subject, not only because of wrath but also because of conscience. For the same reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, busy with this very thing. Pay to all what is due them - taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due. Romans 13:3b-7
Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments, "You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not covet"; and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, "Love you neighbor as yourself." Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law. Romans 13:8-10
We take a break from these weekday devotions with a powerful text. I find that it is powerful in its simplicity. What a wonderful way to walk into the day and to greet and meet the people around us. When we start to keep track of the laws to obey, it is easy to also keep score. As though we will come to a point in time when we will unpack our bags and there will be points that need to be added up to see how well we have done. The rule is - love...all...everyone...without exception. Of course loving our neighbor includes all the words of the other commandments...but it includes much more. Built into this commandment is a sense of honor. We honor others. We keep them as precious to our lives. We find in them a completeness for life as we are with them in community...neighbors.
Connection: Love one another. Sometimes it is very necessary to ask ourselves what would it mean to be a loving neighbor in this situation...with these people.
Lord of Love, bless us with the eyes to see the significance of our neighbor and to find joy in our lives together. Turn us from the ways of violence and hate, envy and greed...so that we may turn with new eyes to those around us. Amen
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