The Lens of Love

By Paula Williamson, guest writer

The Lens of Love

In Bible days, the Pharisees reduced God’s word and laws to a list of rules and regulations. They even added some. JAMES 2:10 For whoever keeps the whole Law, yet stumbles in one point, has become guilty of all. There are so many rules and regulations in the Bible that it is easy to be confused. Someone asked Jesus which was the greatest command. His answeer summed up the law and the prophets.

It Is Written

GALATIANS 5:14 For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

MATTHEW 22:40 The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”

Motivated By Love

Motives are hard to identify until you ask yourself why you are doing what you are doing. Left to ourselves, motives are extremely self-serving. Love is not. If the Bible seems complicated, doing all things in love is a great starting point. Love is not a mushy feeling. It means doing what is in others' best interests. 

Prayer

Lord, help us do all things with great love. Help us discern what is in others' best interests. Help us have the courage to do so, even when it is hard. We can be extremely short-sighted and self-serving without even realizing it. We need Your wisdom and Your heart to guide us. Put Your love within us and help us do all things through that lens.

Takeaway

Love, the eternal lens.