The Whole Word

Verse of the day: Exodus 21:18-19 “If men have a quarrel and one strikes the other with a stone or with his fist, and he does not die but remains in bed, 19 if he gets up and walks around outside on his staff, then he who struck him shall go unpunished; he shall only pay for his loss of time, and shall take care of him until he is completely healed.”

I will not cover all the laws, judgments or ordinances that the LORD gave the Israelites, but I will use this one to help us understand that God’s Word, in its entirety, is still applicable today. God said, through the Apostle Paul, in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” Although we are free from the Law, God’s Law can still be used as a guide for how we are supposed to interact with one another, and in many instances, shows us what it means to love one another. Jesus gave us the two greatest commandments, to love God and our neighbor (Mark 12:30-31). He told us that we are to love one another, as God’s children, and by this people will know that we belong to Him (John 13:34-35). Just as we are to love our neighbor as ourselves, we are to do unto others, as we would have done unto us. Jesus said in Matthew 7:12, “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” If we look at the Law through the eyes of love, we will find that the law can certainly be a guide to how we should love God and love one another; thereby confirming God’s truth that ALL SCRIPTURE is profitable. In a world where everyone tries to get their “pound of flesh” and then some, from one another, we have made lawyers rich with the number of lawsuits we file against one another. Sadly, even God’s children have been drawn into this practice, in setting matters with each other. Oftentimes, it is not even about the injury; it is all about the money to be made. We, the Christian, the born again believer, has been instructed on how to settle matters with one another. 1 Corinthians 6 clearly instructs us not to take our matter to the world, to the court run by the unsaved. Instead, we are to settle the matter amongst ourselves. We are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, and possess God’s Word. Both the Spirit and the Word provide plenty of guidance for us to settle our differences, in a wise, loving, and forgiving manner (Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13). The Apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians 6:7, tells us that it is our utter failure when we, the church, go to the unsaved to settle matters between us. He asks the simple questions, “Why not simply accept the wrong? Why not accept that you have been cheated?” This is preferable to going before the world and demonstrating that we have no more wisdom than they do. This is far better than showing the world that the same people who preach Christ, and proclaim that Christianity is different than the world, yet cannot even get along with one another. If we look closely at what God said to Israel when He gave them His Law, and we look at it through the lens of love, we can say, “If I love God, and love my neighbor, I will make every effort to forgive the wrong they did; and if I did them wrong, I will do whatever I have to in making it right.” When we read this ordinance, in Exodus, that is what God was telling Israel, “If you injure your neighbor, pay him for his loss, and take care of him until he is healed from the damage you inflicted.” “Why? Because you love Me, and you want to obey what I have commanded; and because you love your neighbor, and would want them to do the same for you in similar circumstances.” Galatians 5:14 reminds us, “For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” The Word of God, in its entirety, is profitable in teaching us how to truly love God, and love others.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).