Law of Love

TODAY: Devote some quiet time to assessing where you are in all aspects of your life — as a spouse, parent, worker, co-worker, as a member of your community and of your church. Make two new goals for yourself.

When Jesus gave the most famous sermon of all time, the Sermon on the Mount, most of his followers were Jews. He interpreted many of the laws and traditions of the Jewish faith passed down by Moses and the writers of the Old Testament and related them to what he was teaching.

Jesus turned the Law of Moses into the Law of Love.

Fasting, the act of giving up sustenance for a period of time as a sacrifice to the Lord God, was a deeply held tradition by the Jewish community. But Jesus pointed out that by following these laws, one learns to love God and his neighbor by doing acts of kindness. Motives, thoughts and what goes on in the mind of the person — and not just material possessions like food and treasures — are what is important in religion.

Our rewards will be great if we give, pray and fast without making a big show of ourselves. These acts are private matters between the believer and God. This is true of our treasures — all things material eventually rust, decay or will be destroyed. But the God-like qualities of love, joy, peace and goodwill are the treasures we need to seek. They are everlasting and can never be destroyed.

— Abbie Edwards