TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Matthew 23:1-39
For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. - Matthew 23:12
TODAY IN THE WORD
In 2006, Madonna and her husband Guy Ritchie gave millions of dollars to the impoverished nation of Malawi. They set up orphanages for thousands of needy children. They even adopted a boy out of dire circumstances. But civil rights groups and media outlets accused her of breaking the country's adoption laws, abusing her celebrity status, and taking advantage of the child's illiterate father. Fairly or not, some even questioned whether the adoption was a publicity stunt.

The religious leaders of Jesus' day appeared to be doing good, and yet Jesus accused them of the worst sort of hypocrisy. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees displayed their so-called faithfulness with grand gestures. They wore oversized phylacteries (leather pouches containing small scrolls of Scripture; cf. Deut. 6:8 ) and tassels (Num. 15:38) that drew attention to their status. The leaders weren't without love. They loved the attention, perks, and accolades that came with being religious superstars (vv. 6-7)! The leaders and their followers both deserved blame for the situation. The Pharisees and teachers should not have taken advantage of the praise and reverence of men, but the people being taught should not have elevated the leaders' personas to the point of worship (vv. 8-10).

The heart of the matter is common to all men, not just the Pharisees. By our sinful nature, we are greedy people. People with money and power crave more of the same. Even worse, we try to keep other people from getting what we have. The Pharisees piled their own laws and restrictions on the people of Israel (v. 4) but attacked when men of real truth came along (v. 34).

Jesus explained what was missing from their religious rites: justice, mercy, and faithfulness (v. 23). Without a humble love for God and a genuine love for people, we tend to create our own rules, neglect other people's needs, and serve only ourselves.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Humbling your heart in God's eyes can be difficult. Humbling yourself in front of others can feel impossible. Today, instead of trying to be either witty or pious in order to draw attention to yourself, look for ways to serve. Sin motivates us to shine a spotlight on each other's flaws when we should be shining a searchlight in an effort to help. Make it a point to help someone in need. If possible, do it in complete secrecy to avoid the temptation of self-promotion.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Matthew 22:34-40
Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. - Ecclesiastes 12:13
TODAY IN THE WORD
From time to time, the U.S. government attempts to simplify tax law, which is no easy task. Representative Del Latta from Ohio served on a congressional committee on tax reform, and in 1985 he made light of their monumental task saying, “I hold in my hand 1,379 pages of tax simplification.”

Critics of the Bible think it is more confusing than the tax code, a rulebook too complex and extensive either to remember or to follow. Even lifelong Christians would find it almost impossible to list every command found in Scripture. But the two commandments Jesus quoted in today's reading encapsulate the spirit of God's instructions for living. By no means can we dismiss the rest of the Bible, but the commands to love God and to love our neighbors lay a firm foundation for everything else in our lives. Practically any sin we commit can be traced back to a failure to love God or others properly. The fact that the legal expert was testing Jesus (who was both God and man) shows that he was in the process of breaking both commandments with one brief question!

As was His custom, Jesus easily handled the test by quoting Scripture (cf. Deut. 6:5; Lev. 19:18). And there is a distinct order to the commands. Jesus first said that the greatest is to love God with the entirety of our being. And He made it perfectly clear that although the second command is like the first, it isn't a two-way tie. Loving others must never take away from our love for God.

Still we must also consider that we can't adequately love God while ignoring His command to love others. We can't live obediently if we're attending only to our own hierarchy of needs. Over the course of the next week, we'll explore in further detail God's direction about neighborly love. But for now the important thing is to establish the foundation. A right relationship with the people in your life begins by loving them.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
We've all gone through numerous to-do lists, but have you ever made a “to-love” list? The first step in loving your neighbor is making a conscious decision to love that person.

Write down a few names or make a mental list of people you can decide to love. Include the people closest to you, but also add some people for whom love doesn't come naturally. Begin showing your love to them by praying for them today.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Proverbs 3:30
[Love] always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. - 1 Corinthians 13:7
TODAY IN THE WORD
In November 2006, six Muslims were removed from an American Airlines plane in Minnesota prior to takeoff after a passenger reported their “suspicious behavior” to a flight attendant. The airline and passengers offered conflicting stories about the removal, but both sides agreed that the men had done nothing illegal. Made conspicuous by their five daily prayers, these men and others like them claim to be the victims of religious profiling, guilty only of “Flying While Muslim.”

Defenders of the Constitution call racial or religious profiling un-American. Readers of the Bible can recognize it as unbiblical. Today's passage, one verse from Proverbs, stands against fear and suspicion as a bold statement of acceptance.

While today's verse does not command us to love, it warns us against doing the opposite. Accusing someone without proof is hateful, and it appears regularly in our culture in various forms.

One obvious way is racial bigotry. When you see a person of another race, your natural inclination may be to associate him or her with every negative action ever perpetrated by someone of the same color or nationality. By the standard of Proverbs 3:30, that reaction is sinful. When we prejudge that person, we have made a baseless accusation against someone who has not personally harmed us in any way.

The same can be done with other superficial judgments as well. The way a person dresses can trigger premature accusations. A tattoo, an accent, a hairstyle, or even a manner of walking can influence the way we think about the people we see every day. We must ask ourselves whether our first instinct is to love the person made in God's image, or to imagine the sins of which that person might be guilty and to allow our hatred to fester without any foundation in fact? If we judge, we'll be separated from others as the Pharisees were. If we love as our first instinct, we'll be drawn close to others as Jesus was (cf. Mark 2:15-17).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Are you uncomfortable around certain types of people? You may not have consciously voiced a negative opinion, but you could be harboring snap judgments about people who have done nothing to deserve them. If you find yourself reacting negatively to someone based on appearance alone, try reversing your natural reaction with this powerful word: “Hello.” You can conquer interpersonal fear with a small but courageous connection. As people loved by God, we should give every person the opportunity to experience love.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Exodus 20:12-17
For he who loves his fellow man has fulfilled the law. - Romans 13:8
TODAY IN THE WORD
“Affirming the consequent” is a logical fallacy that produces unreliable conclusions. Here's an example: “If a baby boy is born in Ohio, he's an American citizen. Sally is an American citizen, therefore, she was born in Ohio . . . and she's a baby boy.” It's easy to spot the mistake when the end result is obviously flawed. But when some Bible students “affirm the consequent,” the results can lead to legalism.

Here's an example of the logic of legalism: “If you love your neighbor, you'll obey these last six commandments in Exodus 20. Therefore, if you obey these commandments, you love your neighbor.” This section of the Ten Commandments pertains primarily to our relationship with other people (the first four focus on properly honoring God; vv. 3-11). While it's important to observe these rules faithfully, we shouldn't consider this an exhaustive list. In Romans 13, Paul says that these commands are summed up in the command to “Love your neighbor as yourself” (13:9). Following these commands should be rooted in love, but it doesn't prove our love.

Still, any time we fall short of these commands, we can be sure that we're also failing to love as God commanded. They provide a good test for any obvious problems in our relationships with others.

A proud heart might result in disrespectful attitudes toward parents and family. Even those not guilty of a capital crime might be infested by anger, the seed that blossoms into murder. Someone who stops short of adultery can still dwell on lustful thoughts. And our society offers countless creative, socially acceptable ways to steal and lie. Even if we're not committing these actions, a combination of weak love and inflated selfishness will push us in the direction of these outward displays of sin.

The final command, however, speaks against an internal sin that's easy to examine in our hearts but difficult to avoid. Our hearts naturally incline toward greed, and we desire what other people have. Not only does that defy the commandment not to covet, it violates the greater commandment to love.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Living by the negative often proves overwhelming, if not impossible. If your aim is to not get angry, not lust, not lie, or not covet, you may find your mind preoccupied with all that you should not do. Instead, when you feel tempted to do any of those things, resolve to love others more than you love yourself. Use these commandments as a checklist to see any obvious ways you have failed to love. Then ask God to create in you a deep love that conquers your sinful predisposition.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Exodus 22:1-27
Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow. - Isaiah 1:17
TODAY IN THE WORD
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Since the Declaration of Independence, Americans have fought to defend and uphold those unalienable rights as the foundational elements of our society. Few things are as esteemed in America as the rights of the individual.

The Declaration of Independence is correct: God did endow us with certain rights. He spelled them out clearly when He gave the law to Moses, but He took a different approach than what the Founding Fathers used. Rather than listing the rights all men possess, God told Israel the right way to treat others. It's a distinction that makes a difference in our mindset. Our focus should be on treating others with love, not demanding that our own rights be met.

The first fifteen verses in our passage today summarize the fair way to compensate an owner for destroyed or stolen property, and in each case, a threefold pattern emerges. First, enough evidence must be found to judge the issue fairly. Second, the value of the property lost or stolen must be appreciated. Lastly, the party responsible must take action to make appropriate restitution, in some cases repaying more than what was lost (vv. 4, 5, 9).

The passage also informed Israel of the right way to worship God and the right way to love others. What stands out most within the context of this month's study is the particular way God commanded Israel to treat foreigners, widows, and orphans, people in circumstances of hardship or suffering. Verses 21 and 22 are, in effect, commandments of compassion. While there is no detailed list stipulating how these people should be cared for or accommodated, the law of God comes to their general defense. Again, anyone following the basic commandments of the heart to love God and others would have had no problem living up to the details listed in this passage.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Never underestimate the link between a person's property and the person himself. Showing love to your neighbor includes showing respect for your neighbor's possessions. If you're responsible for damage or loss to other people's property—from a mild trampling of a lawn to a major scratch on a car—be quick to make amends and be generous with your repayment. Try to think if there have been any instances you've overlooked. Even if admitting fault is embarrassing, it's an opportunity to show God's love.

[HimAll4]

Just wanted to jump in here and say thank you, Pastor Roger, for posting these.  I'm getting alot out of them. 

[Soldier4Christ]

You're most welcome. I love the devotions from Moody Bible myself.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Leviticus 19:1-18
Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. - Leviticus 19:18
TODAY IN THE WORD
In 1988, Robert Fulghum made the literary claim, “All I really need to know I learned in Kindergarten.” The main idea behind his essay was that since the governing principles of life—sharing, being nice, cleaning up after yourself, and maintaining a sense of wonder—are taught at the earliest stages of social development, the lessons should be obvious to us throughout our lives. Fulghum's observations made his book of essays an instant success and put it atop the best seller list for almost two years.

So how could a book of such elementary rules come as new information to adults? Because selfish pursuits tend to distract us from the truth that we expect our young children to grasp. And selfish pursuits are the favorite pastime of humankind.

When God delivered the law to Israel through Moses, it was one of the first acts of spelling out such a comprehensive list of laws for men. But even without the law, the human conscience has always informed men about what is right and wrong in God's eyes (Rom. 2:14-15). So commandments such as “Do not deceive one another” (v. 11) and “Do not defraud your neighbor” (v. 13) hardly came as a surprise to Israel. Still, having the commandments in writing gave a permanence and finality that any man, woman, or child could understand.

Among the precepts found in this chapter is an interesting command against overly thorough harvesting. Not only were the people to give a tenth of their harvest as a tithe to the Lord (Lev. 27:30), but they were also to leave whatever part of their crop remained after the first pass. It was a gesture of generosity shown to the poor and vagrants passing through the land. You might remember that Ruth would later become the beneficiary of that particular bit of legislation (Ruth 2). In this way, a provision intended for the poor gave food to a woman from whom the kings of Israel, and the King of Kings, would descend.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Another command found in this passage is also one of the hardest to obey: the warning against carrying anger and the exhortation to rebuke a neighbor's sin. It sounds so simple, but it requires a mature control over our emotions. If a neighbor is in sin, even if he or she sins against you, you must avoid both the temptation to dwell on your anger and the desire to look the other way completely. Ask the Lord for the courage and the control to confront the person lovingly.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 15:1-5
Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary? - Psalm 15:1
TODAY IN THE WORD
According to a 2006 survey conducted in the United Kingdom, over 80 percent of people lie at least once a day—and who knows how many people lied on the survey! The study revealed that people tell little white lies to get out of work, to get out of trouble, to spare someone's feelings, and to save their own reputations. Respondents also said that technology such as e-mail, voice mail, and cell phones make it easier to get away with long-distance fibs.

According to Psalm 15, most people in today's world must find it impossible to draw close to God. It's a psalm about integrity, and while it primarily discusses our relationship with other people, ultimately what is at stake is our standing in the presence of the Lord.

In general, we are called to live a blameless life, which is no small task. But take note of what the psalmist singles out as details of a life worthy of dwelling in God's sanctuary. Our speech must be impeccable. We're to be truthful without being hurtful or insulting. That means we can't justify rudeness simply by saying, “Hey, I tell it like it is.” Honesty does not require hostility.

We also need to be mindful of how others view God. We should take offense at those who revile Him, and conversely we should be pleased by those who follow Him. It doesn't mean that we exclude all unbelievers from our lives, but we should care about how others feel toward God.

The next clause describes a person whose promise is sure no matter what the circumstances. Some translations even interpret it to mean that the one taking the oath puts his own well being on the line in order to prove his intention of keeping the vow.

Finally, the psalmist highlights the financial dealings of the person able to draw close to God. Fairness and generosity are not surprising as ideal characteristics. To live up to this standard, we must not take advantage of those in need or give unfair leverage to the rich.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Loving with integrity has its benefits! Not only does God welcome into His fellowship those who meet the criteria of Psalm 15, but such a person also leads a life that cannot be shaken (v. 5). But how can we hope to aspire to that lofty standard? First of all, lay claim to the promise of 1 John 1:9 by confessing any sin and being cleansed of unrighteousness. Then in repentance make a heartfelt decision to love your neighbor as yourself. The Holy Spirit will guide you in the following steps.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Romans 13:7-10
For he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. - Romans 13:8
TODAY IN THE WORD
The United States national debt is fast approaching $9 trillion. The economics aren't easy to understand, but the basic idea is that the government is spending more money than it's taking in. Some estimate that if every working American paid nearly $300 a month toward the debt, it would take one hundred years to pay it off. Others believe that the country will never eliminate the debt.

When it comes to loving others, we all owe a debt that will never go away. In Romans 13 Paul calls our attention to this “continuing debt” of love, a reminder that loving others is not an “above and beyond” behavior. We owe it to each other to love unconditionally.

At first read, it might appear that Paul is issuing a free pass from the details of the law, but that's not exactly true. Love does cover all the stipulations of the law regarding other people in that it prevents us from doing harm. But the fact that loving your neighbor fulfills the law also serves to stress the mandate. Love doesn't abolish the law, it simply fulfills it. So if at any point we fail to love, we fail to fulfill the law.

This passage forces us to reexamine how we think about love. Because the commandment to love is a positive one, we sometimes interpret it as a suggestion to keep in mind. But the command isn't, “Love your neighbor as yourself, when you get a chance.” Love for others is not a concept we should have filed away in the back of our minds. It should be the governing principle of our lives.

Another natural inclination is to subconsciously think that we can meet our love quota for the day, week, or month. At what point have we loved enough? The answer is obvious. We can never pay our ongoing debt. But our concern shouldn't be when we have sufficiently loved. It's impossible to limit or even to quantify. The important thing is that our hearts are marked by the desire to love others rather than the compulsion to serve our own agendas.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Is there a person in your life from whom you are withholding love? If there is a dispute or a division in any of your relationships, don't wait for the other person to make the first move toward reconciliation. Consider yourself in debt to that person, a debt that can only be paid with love. Instead of listing the reasons why you feel justified in holding a grudge or responding in anger, think of ways you can lovingly restore harmony.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 10:25-37
But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” - Luke 10:29
TODAY IN THE WORD
As Wesley Autrey waited for a New York subway train, he saw a man lapse into a seizure and fall onto the tracks. With a train fast approaching, the 50-year-old construction worker responded immediately, jumping off the platform and pulling the man into a foot-deep drainage trough between the rails. The train passed mere inches above the two men, who were unharmed. After the rescue Autrey commented, “I don't feel like I did something spectacular; I just saw someone who needed help. I did what I thought was right.”

What seems like unusual heroism to most people is simply the right thing to do in God's eyes. As we learn in the parable of the Good Samaritan, the command to love your neighbor as yourself demands something more than feelings of general goodwill and kindness.

The expert who tried to test Jesus had backed himself into a corner. He asked Jesus for the definition of a neighbor, hoping Jesus would bail him out with an answer that vindicated his limited view of compassion. Instead, Jesus turned the question around, defining the neighbor as the one who felt compassion and acted on it immediately and generously.

Jesus didn't stop at answering the question, “Who is my neighbor?” He commanded the expert in the law to go and act as the Good Samaritan did. For a Jewish leader to be commanded to act like a Samaritan would have been particularly insulting, since the Jews despised the Samaritans culturally and religiously. Jesus also shattered the so-called expert's ego by revealing his misunderstanding of one of the most fundamental commandments in the Mosaic law.

The parable illustrates the difference between knowing the law and having the law in your heart. This expert may have memorized every rule. The priest and Levite in the parable may have centered their daily lives on religious duties commanded by the law. But the Samaritan loved with compassion and behaved in a way that pleased God.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
As you study with us this month, this question might be in the back of your mind: “How do I know when I've done enough?” You'll have your answer when you learn to stop asking that question. If you have your eyes directed on yourself, you'll never be satisfied with what you see. But if you look outward at the needs of others, you'll see opportunities to love with generous compassion. If you act on them, God will be glorified and you will know you've done the right thing.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Matthew 5:43-48
Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. - Luke 6:27-28
TODAY IN THE WORD
During the Civil War, a woman who was a staunch supporter of the Union once chided Abraham Lincoln for speaking too kindly about the southern states. The woman said that he should focus on destroying his enemies instead of being nice. Lincoln responded, “Why madam, do I not destroy my enemies when I make them my friends?”

Loving your enemies doesn't come naturally, humanly speaking, and that's the point of this portion of the Sermon on the Mount. Even though saddled with a sin nature, people tend to repay love with love. Loving people who love you is no extraordinary achievement. Yesterday we saw how Christ commanded us to love people in need, even complete strangers from different walks of life. But in Matthew 5, Jesus took the command to love one step further. “Love your enemies” is a concept so contrary to our natures, most people don't want to consider it.

The thought of serving or showing love to someone who hates us can make our blood pressure rise, but Jesus' statement about God puts things into perspective. Think about how many enemies of God inhabit the earth on any given day. Now consider how much God has given each one of them. The shining sun and the provision of rain are just two basic examples from a world of grace that God makes available to all people. If the Creator of all—who has every right to withhold every good thing from us as disobedient, rebellious creatures, can show us love and withhold His wrath instead—how can we justify our failure to love our enemies?

Twice Jesus connected loving our enemies with being like God. The term “sons” in verse 45 speaks to the way that we can resemble God as a child resembles his father. And in verse 48, Jesus singled out the quality required to produce such resemblance—perfection. God alone is perfect. Only He can enable us to love in this way.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
If you don't label anyone you know personally as an “enemy,” consider a broader scope of the world. Do any political groups make you angry? Maybe someone or some issue in the news draws your ire. Take two steps to show love to these “enemies.” When something you see in the media angers you, pray with love for the people involved. Second, if the topic comes up in conversation, take special consideration to treat with respect and love people who take a dissenting opinion.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 John 2:9-17
Do not love the world or anything in the world. - 1 John 2:15
TODAY IN THE WORD
An unconfirmed church tradition holds that, as an old man, the apostle John was too old and frail to walk. He was regularly carried to the church assemblies in Ephesus, and all that he would ever say was, “Little children, love one another!” When other members of the church asked why he kept repeating that particular phrase, John reportedly answered, “It is the Lord's command. And if this alone be done, it is enough!”

For the past several days we've been examining in detail this command that so comprehensively dictates how we should live. We're commanded to love everyone from our family and neighbors to strangers and enemies. The mandate to love has no escape clause. But as sinners living in this world, we face a constant struggle between our desire to love as God does and our propensity for straying. Today's passage in John points the way to victory in two particular struggles: hatred within the church and the desire to love worldly things.

When John uses the word brother, he is most likely referring to fellow Christians. Throughout his teaching, John repeatedly stresses his deep desire for love to reign in the body of Christ. Here he says that loving our brothers and sisters in Christ is the difference between walking in complete darkness and enjoying perfect light. John's assurances to children, fathers, and young men all encourage believers of their standing in Christ, and love for each other is the confirmation of the reality of the light of Christ reigning in their hearts.

On the other hand, love for the world is a dangerous trap. John isn't prohibiting love for unsaved people; rather, he's warning against adopting a worldly philosophy. The world lusts after selfish desires and pleasures, placing hope in possessions and achievements. A Christian who exhibits that kind of lifestyle cannot succeed in selfless love. What's worse, a person who invests time and resources in the things of this world will miss out on the everlasting benefit of loving others.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
If you want to find out what and who you truly love, examine your schedule and your checkbook. What do you spend your time and money on? Look back at how you've spent your time over the last week or so. Are you spending any time helping others? Have you been available for people in need? Are you using your money only to meet your own desires? Make a heartfelt decision to change as God directs you.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Matthew 19:16-23
What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? - Mark 8:36
TODAY IN THE WORD
It's tough to buy an apartment in the ritzy neighborhood of Knightsbridge in London, but one building owner made global headlines by offering a room for sale that was available for anyone who wanted it. The interested party, however, would have to use some imagination to make a home sweet home out of the tiny 77-square-foot former storage closet with no windows and no electricity. So what prevented these cramped quarters from being snatched off the market? The owner was asking $335,000!

Some prices are too shocking even to consider, and that's exactly what the rich young man thought of Jesus' asking price. But this man wasn't looking for a mere apartment in a nice neighborhood; he wanted a way to earn eternal life.

Outwardly, the man appeared to be an outstanding example of godly living. Unlike the Pharisees and scribes, he didn't question Jesus in order to test Him. He earnestly valued Jesus' guidance, showing Him considerable respect and reverence (cf. Mark 10:17). And at least by his judgment, he thought he had upheld all the commandments that Jesus listed for him, even the command to love his neighbor. Everything pointed to the fact that this young man had all the qualifications to be an upstanding citizen in the kingdom of God.

But the man himself wasn't satisfied with his obedience, so he asked Jesus yet again to reveal what he was missing. To the man's dismay, Jesus did exactly that. He showed the man the condition of his heart with a simple test. He was given the choice between all the material possessions he had and the eternal life and reward that comes from abandoning everything to follow Jesus. He had the chance to trade his earthly possessions for heavenly wealth and in the process show abundant love by giving generously to the poor. The man, who had persistently asked Jesus for direction, lost heart the moment he heard Jesus' request. It's hard for a rich man to enter God's kingdom, especially when his love for his wealth exceeds his love for God and for others.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The command that Jesus gave to the rich young man was a specific directive to that man alone; He wasn't telling each of us to sell all of our possessions. But is there a possibility that you treasure material things more than the well-being of another person? Test your heart. Could you sell a prized possession and give the proceeds to a compassion ministry that aids the poor? Try it, and trust God to give you treasure in heaven that is far more valuable than anything on earth.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Leviticus 18:1-30
Do not defile yourselves in any of these ways. - Leviticus 18:24
TODAY IN THE WORD
Boethius, a philosopher from the sixth century, wrote, “Who would give a law to lovers? Love is unto itself a higher law.” Gay rights activists use it as a slogan endorsing homosexuality and transgender lifestyles. They take offense at any effort to place restrictions on whom they love or how they express it.

Scripture supports the notion that law cannot prohibit love (Gal. 5:22-23). But it's a mistake to equate sexual activity with love. While love is a universal command to be obeyed, the Bible clearly condemns certain sexual behaviors. The people of Canaan had been guilty of sexual immorality, and God warned Israel to abstain from that perversion. Their sin violated the land to the point that it vomited out the people to rid itself of their evil. At that time, God demanded the death penalty or at the very least a form of social excommunication for anyone who violated these commands against incest, homosexuality, or bestiality (Lev. 20:10ff).

These commands weren't just special “Old Testament only” restrictions reserved for Israel alone to set them apart. God repeatedly called the acts detestable or an abomination. God's views on homosexuality haven't changed. But the method of punishment from the Old Testament was specifically assigned to Israel as an extension of God's judgment.

Today, we are not called to be executors of God's wrath. We are followers of Christ, who was sent to save the world, not to judge it (John 3:17). And if Jesus, who is blameless in every way, was not on a mission of judgment, how can we who still wrestle with our own sin accuse anyone? Paul chastised his readers who passed judgment on immoral people, because no one is faultless (Rom. 2:1).

We need to recognize today's reading for what it is and is not. It does declare that sexual perversion is an abomination in God's eyes. Not all sex between consenting adults is permissible (even most gay rights activists condemn incest or adultery). But this passage is not a waiver of the command to love. If we loved only the righteous, we would love no one (Rom. 3:10).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Debate is rampant in political and religious circles about what rights should be granted to homosexuals, but one right that no one should have to fight for is the right to receive love from the body of Christ. If you have a hard time feeling compassion for people trapped in sin, ask God to soften your heart. Remember that the blood of Christ has paid the penalty for your sin, and you, too, have been the recipient of unspeakable grace.