Love Does No Harm (By word, thought, or deed)
- Joe Palmisano
- 53 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Theme: Maturing is realizing how many things don’t require your comment.
As I spoke this past Sunday from Paul’s letter to the Roman church, I realized there is to be a stark difference between Christ’s Church in the world and the world itself. “Stark difference” is not substantial enough for how different we should be, as it is like night and day. Now, I always knew that from the point of view of sin and love but did not consider it much as it relates to everyday encounters. I wonder how many people skim past chapter 14, as a chapter void of deep spiritual content, dealing with food, days, and such, a respite from the earlier chapters. I admit that I have, which makes me wonder how many other chapters of the Bible I have written off this way. How wrong we all would be to do that with Chapter 14 of Romans, as it is a veritable roadmap, a user’s manual for a strong, unified, and vibrant church.
After church, I was asked if Paul’s message was for believers, non-believers, or both. I do not doubt that only believers can benefit from Paul’s message. Even though a church will always have those in varied stages of faith, those who visit without knowing Jesus will need to see the members acting differently from those outside. Why do I say Paul’s message is to believers? For one thing, the very first verse says, “the one whose faith is weak,” speaking of that person having faith in Jesus, although weak. Secondly, loving everyone and anyone to the point of sacrificing your freedom could only be understood by a believer in Christ Jesus, as it relates to brothers and sisters, they would not know unless in the Body.
So, how do I summarize this vast difference in this prayer blog? Let me begin by stating that, as believers, we are to be dead to our old selves. If you are not, you are hedging your bet. If not, you are standing with one foot in the world and the other in Jesus, and you need to ask yourself why. I have been there, and, to this day, now and then, I dip my toe into the water of a hot bath of the world. Why, I do not know. Paul, who wrote Romans, also wrote Galatians 2:20, which reads, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” He also wrote Colossians 3:5, “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.” Paul wrote many more verses and chapters like this, and it is clear that he, although reverting at times, considered himself dead to his old self, with its need to be heard and his rights and opinions. This man also gave us Philippians 2:3, which states, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,”
Let us stop there for the sake of brevity, but add the entire life of Jesus from what those closest to Him wrote, for His life was the perfect personification of what Paul is writing us; love beyond comprehension, so great that He was tortured and crucified for us, never placing His needs or self over us.
Therefore, the next time you read Romans, Chapter 14, read it from the perspective that you are dead in Jesus. Dead. What food or drink could be that important? What needs do you have that are greater than others? What do you have a right to, as the dead have no rights?
Also, Jesus freed us from the need to earn our salvation. If we have nothing to earn, do we need laws and rules? Not really. Even Jesus narrowed down the Law of God to, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments. (Matthew 22:37-40 NIV)
In closing, Paul tells us that even though we are dead and are free from the rules used to earn Salvation, God has given us two commands, two guardrails, to keep us from trying to take back our life and sin and flaunting our freedom in others’ faces. The one you just read in Matthew 22:37-40, and the other is, “You are to be holy to me because I, the Lord, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own.” (Leviticus 20:26 NIV).
God knows that if we love Him with all our hearts and love our neighbors as or above ourselves, we will obey God’s direction for our lives, and do nothing to harm our neighbor, in thought or action. He also knows that if we seek Holiness because He is Holy, we will not use our freedom in Christ to sin. I am in awe of my Lord, who has everything in His control, including me.
Scripture: Romans 12:16 NIV, Romans 14:19 NIV
“Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.”
“Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.”
Prayer:
Lord God, thank you for reminding me that I, the me who thinks I truly matter in and of myself, am dead. Lord, when I am reminded of this it is like a heavy sack is removed from my back, as I no longer need to have an opinion, prove myself, nor seek approval from others. I can place others above me without hurting my ego and can love without wondering if I will be loved in return. Because of your Word, I may be truly free for the first time, and pray that you keep me in this place forever, my Lord and Savior. Amen