“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it:You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”You shall love your neighbor as yourself”-Matt 22:39

“Within the God-given wisdom of our founding documents, we have been granted clear and certain ways for bringing about change concerning those things we perceive that are wrong in our land.  All the resources of Almighty God and His Word are available to us.  He rules in the affairs of men, and nothing is too hard for Him.  He is the sovereign King of the universe, with all power and authority, and He is compassionate, gracious and ready to extend his love and mercy to those willing to obey and trust Him. Let us bend our knees and humble our hearts and pray.”   Written hundreds of years ago by founding fathers – these principles are true today. We do not rely on the governing structures of man but are governed by the inner truths of God written on the hearts of every man, woman & child. The very thing that will uphold a nation is what is daily demonstrated by the heart of people, love – the common decency with which we treat one another.

God’s commandments are not a set of judicial, moral or religous laws. Within these judeo-chrisitan percepts lies the heart and character of God, that was intended to guide a nation(s) to righteousness in the eyes of God. This is the foundation of a nation – the law of love. Scripture says this, “All the law is fulfilled in one word, love.” Rom. 13:10.

In current culture there are great sources of tension and tumult. We are overwhelmed by multitudenous law that seems to make no lasting and postive impact on life or love. Then to, contemporary dialogue demands that there is no one truth for all. But, within scripture lies the bedrock of reality – all obedience begins in our affections, not religion or law. In fact, the foundation of the law was established by love. Man made in the image of God is created for blessing and love. Not love of self but love of God and one another, this is our legacy. The law of man is written on the books and pages of history.  The law of love is established in the heart and demonstrated by God’s only Son’s fulfillment of the law through love. Jesus Christ, God’s love to us has fulfilled the law.

Let us remember that love pays the ultimate price – once and for all. This same love has paid the price throughout history for what is good and right. This is not some syrupy sentiment for wimps. Not some convenient mythology that fulfills a momentary physical need. In the age of great divisiveness and destructive dialogue – love provides rest for the soul and the people of its nation. Knowing this, that when we love God first and live with one another in common decency that the laws of man become secondary.

There will never be a ballot box, governmental guru that will provide sufficient course correction for an entire nation. We have an individual responsibility that cannot be outsourced – this is the freedom our forefathers built the nation upon. That we would first be accountable to God. Then, to one another – loving others more than ourselves.

 

 

 

 

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