Back to the Basics of Love

by Robin Gray

Several weeks ago I attended my Dad’s church for the Easter sermon. I don’t get to attend church very often because of my work schedule, but it was a wonderful service about the resurrection of Christ, and particularly what a risen Savior meant to Peter.

Some might say the sermon was basic, and I suppose it was. But I’ve been feeling a call on my heart in the last few months to return to the basics; the true fundamentals of faith; the solid foundation upon which a relationship with God is established.

So “basic” is not necessarily boring. Basic is good and vital. Basic is essential. Sometimes it’s a good thing to let Spurgeon and Lewis speak for themselves, and glean for oneself the words spoken by the Prophet Isaiah, King David, the Apostle Paul, and Jesus Christ.

The basics of fulfilling the law of Christ…

Lately God is calling me back to the basics of the Law of Christ, so I did a word search and looked it up. My search brought me to Paul’s letter to the Galatians when he said, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2). The preceding verse says, “Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.” (Galatians 6:1). Paul is telling us here that fulfilling the “law of Christ” means bearing the burdens of another with humility and compassion, including the burdens of someone we might consider as “sinful.” We are to be mindful of our own proclivity to sin and failure, and not consider ourselves above temptation. We are to see the need and not just the deed, and be guided by the Spirit in gentleness and humility.

Do I do that in my own life? Not as much as I need to. But I’m willing to return to the basics and learn.

The whole of the Bible on two basic commands…

Jesus himself spoke of fulfilling the law when he was asked by a Pharisee which was the greatest commandment. “Jesus replied, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.'” (Matthew 22:37-40)

According to Jesus, everything written in the Bible hinges (or “hangs”) on two simple concepts: Loving God, and loving others. He expands on these concepts in Matthew 5:44 by further instructing those following him to “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Basically, love God and love everybody else.

(That’s a tall order, Jesus. I’m not good at it, I will admit it. Some people you are just going to have to love through me, because I don’t have it in me. Yet another reason why I need you.)

“Whatever you did for the least of these…”

Jesus said that he did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it. And how did he do that? By healing the sick, raising the dead, feeding the hungry. He then allowed himself to be arrested, stripped, beaten, mocked, and crucified. He was raised up on a cross in front of his enemies and his neighbors, an illustration of perfect love in action.
So when he tells us, “I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me,” (Matthew 25:35-36) he is describing love in action. Then he says, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40)

The basics of love in action…

And there it is… Loving God is loving others. It is a verb. Not an adjective, an abstract thought, or me just rambling on a Sunday afternoon. Loving God is actively, with purpose and determination, loving people. Neighbor people, enemy people, all people. Loving God is loving “them,” whoever “them” may be in my life or yours.

Again, that’s a tall order. I have yet to master it. But it’s Bible, and it’s basic, and I’m willing to submit myself to the Spirit and learn to truly fulfill the law of Christ.

“This is my command: Love each other.” (John 15:17)