Thursday, March 15

Laws of Love

Narrative Lectionary Daily Devotions written by Kace Leetch from Clergy Stuff.

Until this point, Jews had been living under the covenant God made with Abraham, and the commandments God gave through Moses. Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy painstakingly lay out all of God's laws, ordinances, and rituals. God made sure there was no question how they were to live. The laws, when followed according to God's command and intent, would ensure the long and happy survival of God's people. 

Over the centuries, however, those laws intended for the protection and governing of God's people were re-interpreted and mis-interpreted, so that they became barely recognizable as laws of love. The laws were used to oppress, imprison, punish, and enslave.

Jesus' arrival marked a renewal of God's loving commandments. Succinctly put, all of God's laws boiled down to this: "Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another." When this law comes before all others, then God's commandments can be followed to empower, uplift, and protect one another.

Narrative Lectionary Text: John 13:31-35

When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”