by Jordy van Gaalen

Curb, Mirror, Guide

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking this SoundCloud link.

“Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”
Romans 13:8, 10 NIV

Isn’t it amazing that the fulfillment of the law is LOVE? It is not about working or earning, doing enough or being good enough. It is not checking off boxes like a never-ending to-do list. God didn’t create this giant list of right and wrong, do’s and don’ts, just because. God created a set of guidelines in and out of love for His children. Just as our parents set rules into place for our benefit – or as a parent you set rules to keep your own children from physical, emotional, and spiritual harm – God is constantly looking out for what’s best for us. 

In middle school Catechism class I learned to see the law (the 10 Commandments) as a curb, a mirror, and a guide. A curb to set a boundary. Boundaries keep us in check, from wandering astray into harm’s way. A mirror shows us our errors. This is the humbling piece of the law – a reminder that we are never good or perfect. We can never follow God’s commandments as we ought to – we are in constant self-absorption which pulls us from loving God and loving our brothers and sisters. A guide paves the way. It gives us something to follow – like when someone walks ahead of you in deep snow and you can follow them step for step, keeping your pants and shoes from getting as soaked as they could have. 

God created the 10 Commandments out of love for us. It is for our own good and for the good of all of His children. And the intention and purpose is ultimately love. It is to show love and experience love and to walk daily in love. 

“One of them, an expert in the law, tested [Jesus] with this question: ‘Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?’ 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 22:35-40 NIV

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado