Honey From The Rock

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Honey From The Rock
Psalm 81:16

"Sweet Stuff From God's Word"

A daily Bible study with Victor Knowles
Copyright 2007

LOVE'S RESTRAINING POWER

This entry was posted on 03-07-2008 and is filed under uncategorized.

"For the commandments, 'You shall not commit adultery,' 'You shall not murder,' 'You shall not steal,' 'You shall not bear false witness,' 'You shall not covet,' and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'" (Romans 13: 9 NASV).

Love is the greatest power in all the world. What is it that prevents us from committing adultery with a neighbor's spouse? What keeps us from taking another person's life? What restrains us from taking something that is not our own? What checks us from telling a lie that would harm someone's reputation. What holds us back from coveting something our neighbor has that we don't have? Is it not the restraining power of divine love? That's why we sing, "Love divine, all loves excelling."

Martin Luther said, "We have Christ in our neighbor." Do you see the image of God in your neighbor? Perhaps not. But were they not created in His image and likeness? Jesus said that when we do (or fail to do) deeds of kindness to "the least of these" we do it (or don't do it) unto Him (Matt. 25:40). Christ is our neighbor. We would not sin against Him because of the love we have for Him. Let us look for the face of Christ in every man for every man was made in His likeness and image, no matter how badly sin has marred him.

Hymn/Prayer: "Love divine, all loves excelling, joy of heav'n to earth come down; Fix in us Thy humble dwelling, all Thy faithful mercies crown. Jesus, Thou art all compassion, pure, unbounded love Thou art; Visit us with Thy salvation, enter every trembling heart" (Charles Wesley).