15February2018 Romantic?

Well we have survived another Valentines Day. Hooray! The focus, whatever it started as, seems to have morphed into this gigantic, pink and red and white, sparkly, fru-fru, monetized, commercialized, monster.  Can you sense how I feel about it?  Sorry Hallmark. 

All that to say, I still love L-O-V-E.  In fact I was just reading a great portion of Scripture about love.  I joked with D and said it was one of the most romantic Scriptures.  She thought I was heading to 1 Corinthians 13 or maybe to the Song of Solomon. Nope. Try Exodus 20.  Yes, the chapter with the 10 Commandments.

You see, for the first time, after reading these words from Romans, I read the 10 Commandments through the filter of love.

Do not owe anyone anything, except to love one another, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments, Do not commit adultery; do not murder; do not steal; do not covet; and any other commandment, are summed up by this commandment: Love your neighbor as yourself. Love does no wrong to a neighbor. Love, therefore, is the fulfillment of the law.

That combined with Matthew 22:34-40 really changed my view on the Law:

When the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they came together in the same place. And one of them, an expert in the law, asked a question to test Him: "Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?" He said to him, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important commandment. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commandments."

So those commandments that sound alot like laws, are really all about LOVE.  Check them out below:

1.  Have no other gods besides me.  (Ex.20:2-3)  LOVE GOD!

2.  Do not make an idol for yourself… (vs4-6) LOVE GOD!

3.  Do not misuse the Name of the LORD your God… (vs7) LOVE GOD!

4.  Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy… (vs8-11) LOVE GOD!

5.  Honor your father & mother… (vs12) LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR!

6.  Do not murder (vs13) LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR!

7.  Do not commit adultery (vs14) LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR

8.  Do not steal (vs15) LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR

9.  Do not give false testimony against your neighbor (vs16) LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR!

10. Do not covet your neighbor’s house…(vs17) LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR!

Love!