The Law Of Love

Many think of the Ten Commandments as simply a list of prohibitions yet, in truth, the Ten Commandments are the very highest definition of love. In other words, they are a perfect word picture of God's character of love.

`God's law is not a new thing. It is not holiness created but holiness made known. It is a code of principles expressing mercy, goodness and love. It presents to fallen humanity the character of God, and states plainly the whole duty of man.' (19MR182)

What is love? What is sin? `And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands.' (2 John 6) `Sin is the transgression of the law.' (1 John 3:4)   God's law lies at the very heart of the universe. It is the ultimate rule of conduct. It defines love and it defies sin. Surely a law such as this is worthy of our most careful consideration?

When we understand the true nature of the Ten Commandments, we will realise that they are not prohibitions, as such, but promises - for they constitute the promised changes that will take place in our lives when we enter into and maintain a daily love relationship with Jesus.

`Obey carefully all the words of this law. They are not just idle words for you - they are your life.' (Deut 32:46,47)

`The law of ten commandments is not to be looked upon as much from the prohibitory side as from the mercy side. Its prohibitions are the sure guarantee of happiness in obedience. As received in Christ, it works in us the purity of character that will bring joy to us through eternal ages. To the obedient it is a wall of protection. We behold in it the goodness of God, who by revealing to men the immutable principles of righteousness, seeks to shield them from the evils that result from transgression.’ (6BC1085)

Some have even suggested that the Bible translators could have used the words, `You will not,’ (a promise) rather than `Thou shalt not,’ (a prohibition) at the beginning of each commandment. We would like to take this a step further by suggesting that each commandment could begin with the words, . . . "When you know and love Me, you will . . . ."
 

The Ten Commandments This is Love . . . 1 You will have no other gods before me. Love Is Faithful When you know and love Me you will have no desire to worship other gods. 2 You will not make for yourself any idol . . .  Love Is True When you know and love Me you will have no need of objects of worship. Our relationship will be on a personal basis and our communication will be meaningful and real. 3 You will not misuse the name of the Lord your God Love Is Respectful When you know and love Me you will recognize that I am holy and that I am the source of life and love and, as such, you will not use my name in a flippant manner. 4 You will remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy Love Is Devoted When you know and love Me, you will treasure the seventh day of the week, for I have set this day aside to be a day devoted to our love relationship - it is the day in which we are to spend quality time together. It will be a day in which you will commemorate your creation, your re-creation, and our love for each other. 5 You will honour your father and your mother Love Is Grateful When you know and love Me, you will honour and respect your parents, for you will recognize that you are the product of their love for one another. Just as the creation was an expression of My love, so, in type, you are an expression of your parents love and, as such, you will love and respect them. 6 You will not murder Love Is Life When you know and love Me, you will recognize that I am the Creator of all things. As such you will have no desire to destroy My creation. You will know that murder begins in the mind and that words are able to kill by degrees. You will have a deep fear of anger for you will understand that anger is the first step toward murder. 7 You will not commit adultery Love Is Responsible When you know and love Me, you will understand that life is the product of love, and because you will appreciate the sacredness of life, you will only enter into love relationships that are ordained of heaven. You will not think of reproducing life unless you are certain that you and your spouse are able to lovingly nurture and sustain that life. 8 You will not steal Love Is Generous When you know and love Me, you will know that I am the Giver of all good things. You will therefore not take what I have given to another. 9 You will not give false testimony against your neighbour Love Is Protective When you know and love Me, you will know that I have an intense love for all people. As such you will be as protective of the image of others as you are of your own. You will always find a valid reason for another's weaknesses, and you will always place the most favourable motive on another's mistakes. No matter how faulty another may be, you will only see, speak, think and hear about the good in their lives. You will understand that it is as much a duty to desist from hearing evil as it is from speaking evil, for where there are no hearers of evil, there will be no speakers of evil. 10 You will not covet Love is Contented When you know and love Me, you will find that you will value our relationship above all else. You will have a peaceful trust that I will supply all that you need for life and for godliness. As such, you will not set your heart on anything that I have given to another. Your concern will not be with what you can get but with what you can give - for giving is living.

For Our Meditation

(1) `The first four of the Ten Commandments are summed up in the one great precept, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart." The last six are included in the other, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." Both these commandments are an expression of the principle of love. The first cannot be kept and the second broken, nor can the second be kept while the first is broken. When God has His rightful place on the throne of the heart, the right place will be given to our neighbor. We shall love him as ourselves. And only as we love God supremely is it possible to love our neighbor impartially.’ (DA607.2)

(2) When we know Him, we will love Him. When we love Him, we will obey Him, for obedience to a law that speaks only of love, is love.

(3) `The goal of this command is love.’ (1 Timothy 1:5)

(4) `Love is the fulfillment of the law.’ (Romans 13:10)

(5) `He who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.’ (Romans 13:8)

(6) `Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me.’ (John 14:21)

(7) `Man's destiny will be determined by his obedience to the whole law. Supreme love to God and impartial love to man are the principles to be wrought out in the life.' (DA498)