Week 11 | 1
Love Over Law
Romans 13:8-10
Romans 13:8–10 calls us to carry one ongoing debt—the debt of love. Every relational command (“Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet”) is summed up in “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Because real love seeks a neighbor’s good and “does no harm,” love is not a shortcut around God’s law but the very way we fulfill it in daily life.
Application
1. Let Love Lead Every Interaction
Before you speak, text, post, or decide, ask: Will this do my neighbor good or harm? If it harms, don’t do it; if it helps, lean in.
2. Make Obedience Concrete
Choose the loving action: faithfulness in marriage, honesty in money, dignity in speech, contentment in desire. Love is practical, not vague.
3. Pursue Proactive Good
Don’t stop at “no harm.” Encourage someone weary, restore someone wounded, share credit freely, give time and resources for another’s flourishing.
4. Reshape Your Priorities Around Other People
Since the love-debt never expires, budget your time and energy toward reconciliation, quick forgiveness, steady service, and presence.
Before you speak, text, post, or decide, ask: Will this do my neighbor good or harm? If it harms, don’t do it; if it helps, lean in.
2. Make Obedience Concrete
Choose the loving action: faithfulness in marriage, honesty in money, dignity in speech, contentment in desire. Love is practical, not vague.
3. Pursue Proactive Good
Don’t stop at “no harm.” Encourage someone weary, restore someone wounded, share credit freely, give time and resources for another’s flourishing.
4. Reshape Your Priorities Around Other People
Since the love-debt never expires, budget your time and energy toward reconciliation, quick forgiveness, steady service, and presence.
Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus, You first loved me. Teach me to let love be my standing balance due in every relationship. Form my words, choices, and habits so they do no harm and actively seek my neighbor’s good. Let the joy of my salvation shine through me, that others would see the hope within and experience Your love through my life.
Help me to love others as you love me and want them to be loved. Allow the joy of my salvation to shine through me so that others can not only see the hope that is within me, but they can experience Your love through me. Amen.
Help me to love others as you love me and want them to be loved. Allow the joy of my salvation to shine through me so that others can not only see the hope that is within me, but they can experience Your love through me. Amen.