Could You Spare Some Love? Romans 13:8-14

Sometimes we make things more complicated than they have to be. A previous post talked about throwing away the rules; some of that applies here. Paul explains that the only thing we should owe to one another is love. All the commandments are summed up in the one - love one another.

The spirit behind all the laws is one of love. In fact to live by the Spirit is to walk in love. If you are refraining from stealing because you want to be good, you've missed the point. We should not steal because we love the person from whom we would be stealing.

Romans 13:8-14
8Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. 9The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet,"[a] and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself."[b] 10Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

11And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12The 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. 13Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.[c]

Questions
1. What is your motivation for not breaking the law (like stealing)?
2. Does life ever feel like a battle?
3. What do you think it means to "clothe yourself with..Jesus"?
4. How well do you do at paying off your debt of love?
5. What part of this passage made the strongest impact on you today?

Want to read more? Click here for the rest of the chapter.