Words from the Rock
Trivialize even the smallest item in God’s Law and you will only have trivialized yourself. But take it seriously, show the way for others, and you will find honor in the kingdom.
Matthew 5:19 Message
If you really believe that God’s law is the law of love, if you truly embrace it and want to obey it, you need to take it seriously. But sometimes that’s hard. Not everyone is easy to love. Sometimes it would be way easier just to look the other way and pretend like you momentarily forgot that God wants you to love everyone. Or maybe you could cover it up with something else—like a good deed.
But that would be trivializing God’s law. It would be like saying, “Hey, God, you didn’t really mean it. I don’t have to take it seriously . . . no big deal.”
Take a moment to think of a person you really don’t like—someone you don’t even want to love. Maybe it’s a sibling who knows how to jab at you when you’re already bummed. Maybe it’s a bully or a mean girl at school. Maybe there’s a certain teacher who doesn’t like you, someone who’s treated you unfairly. Maybe it’s a parent or a grandparent or the next-door neighbor.
And maybe that person has really done you wrong—so much so that you feel justified in your feelings toward them, feelings that have nothing to do with love. That means you are not taking God’s law seriously. And it’s a putdown to him—and, as a result, it’s a putdown to you. You see, you can’t slam God without slamming yourself too. That’s why he’s there, ready to help you to love the most challenging people.
My Prayer
Dear God,
I confess that I have trivialized your law. I know that by not loving [name], I’m not taking you seriously. I know that I’m belittling you, which only makes me a smaller person. Please help me to love everyone. And when I think I can’t, please remind me to come to you for help.
Amen.
Final Word
Oh, how I love your law!
I meditate on it all day long.
Your commands make me wiser than my enemies,
for they are ever with me.
Psalm 119:97–98 NIV
Stone for the Journey
I will take God seriously and obey his commands.