Are you drowning in a sea of life’s rules – lots and lots of rules – thinking it's the answer to a good life? If so, understanding the primary character trait of love will unlock the chains of rule’s oppression and release a person to live in true love, a love where life is good, not sometimes, but all the time. Hence the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:17, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets: I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them" (NIV).
What do you feel when you hear the words “rules” or “law?” For most, love is not it. When laws like "Thou shalt not kill.”, “Thou shalt not commit adultery.”, “Thou shalt not steal." etc., come to mind; love is the last thing most people think or feel. Why? Because rules are for bad people, not good ones. Think about it, no proliferation of rules has ever made people better; they just attempt to keep the wrong people out. The sad part, many good people will waste much time and energy learning and worrying about all the rules at the expense of losing sight of what matters most. What matters most — Honoring God's Law of Love! True Love gets you closer to God, people, and yourself to allow life to be the best it can be, rooted in unconditional love, acceptance, and truth.
Jesus said there is one rule, to love! Love first God and then others. When this law is honored, all the other so-called rules fall into place. Think about it. When driving on the interstate, if everyone were mindful of their neighbors on the road because they genuinely care for each other, the laws of the road would become obsolete. Love would fulfill all the rules because people genuinely love each other.
No matter how many laws we have, as proven in the Old Testament, people will continue to rebel and be part of the problem. Let me ask, are you part of the problem? If more rules are your solution, the truth will set you free. Remember the old saying, "Too many rules tie us in knots." I encourage all to veer off the ethical highway of life and yield to God's moral byways that drive a person to a good living. Evil people will always do what they want, whereas good people will always engage in the best thing, love. Regarding it, love is the only law needed to fulfill life’s good reality.
When "Do no evil" is understood through God's Law of Love, "Do good" is the only law needed to develop a good character that directs a good life. Today, stop driving on the broad road of rules and decide, like the "Good Shepard - Jesus," to morally move life through Love. Take the first step today to drive your life with genuine love where Christian Character Counts. Why? Because as the Apostel Paul shared, “The one who loves fulfills the law (Romans 13:8)
With love,