The Condensed Version

The version of stating it may be condensed, but the work is not.  Trust the Lord.

Text for Today – Galatians 5:14 – For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

What an incredibly powerful statement: “All the law is fulfilled in one word.”  Now that is impressive!  “All the law,” the rules, the regulations, the orders, the commandments, the things we should and must do is fulfilled in one statement; “ . . . love thy neighbor as thyself.” 

That statement is easy to read, easy to say, and even easy to comprehend, but, my friend, there’s much more to it than those five words.  Simply stated, to love your neighbor as yourself is impossible.  It is no more possible for you or me to love our neighbor as ourselves on our own, than it was possible that someone other than Jesus could live under the law and perfectly keep them all at all times.

In the Old Testament, lambs died yearly to cover the past year’s sins.  In the New Testament, One Lamb died ONCE AND FOR ALL to wash away our sins.  Since faith works by love, and the love of God is to keep His commandments, and since without faith you cannot please God, it would seem that this needs to become the central action focus for believers everywhere.  If you will obey the Lord and carry out His will in and for your life, you really do need to read THE BOOK.  But for a starting point, whether as a new believer, or a believer getting back on track, or a focus point for any believer just beginning his day, the condensed version is a place to start.  It’s only five words: LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF!

Now that’s not too hard, is it? As impossible as it is, you can do it, for with God, nothing is impossible.  God so loved the world that He gave Jesus.  Jesus so loved the world the He stretched out His hands and died.  You can so walk in love by just allowing Jesus to live through you.  If you truly see yourself as belonging to Him, then choose to live today walking in obedience to His Word toward everyone whom you contact.  You’ll have to do it by faith.  You may fail at it from time to time, but God is merciful, and your Lord will forgive you and cleans you from those failures.  And you know what?  Tomorrow will be a little easier for you to manage that love walk through Jesus.  Holy Ghost will help you, so remember; greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.  Now take the condensed version with you daily and love your neighbor as yourself.

Manna for Today – Romans 5:1-5; 1 John 4:1-5:3; Galatians 5