Romans 13:8-10 Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. … Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.
It seems like we hear it all the time. Someone in authority on the political right—or someone on the left— gets accused of an infraction, and the other side clamors, “No one is above the law!” Or a person of wealth and notoriety receives a pass and everyone (especially those of us with neither wealth nor notoriety) cry, “No one is above the law!”
Although we may have differing perspectives, most of us rely on some standard, or law, of moral right and wrong to guide us.
For Christians, Jesus calls us to a pretty high bar. He says the law above all other laws we must obey is to love. To love him. And to love other people. He says if we commit ourselves to that one thing, it will cover all the other “laws.”
Friend, as believers, we are not above the law of love.
It sounds simple. Well, simple until people hurt us. And we don’t want to forgive. We want them to “get what they deserve.” So does God. And God says what they deserve first from us is love. The rest will follow, whether it be correction, confrontation or a merciful conversation.
A well-known Christian was recently exposed, quite publicly, for hidden sin. Outrage and denunciation flooded social media. The inexcusable hypocrisy shattered lives and tarnished the body of Christ. Reputation now ruined, and ministry essentially over, he learned the hard way that success did not place him above the law of love.
But before we pull out our knives, it’s necessary to remember we’re not above the law of love either. Wagging fingers of condemnation and reveling in self-righteous pride are not part of a believer’s playbook. The Lord wants us to walk in both truth and grace. To love no matter how deep the disappointment.
Because just as none of us are above the law, thank God, none of us are below the law of love. No matter how bad we mess up.