A More Excellent Way

There's been a lot of talk recently about achieving peace in this world through better treaties, eliminating nuclear weapons, or more regulations against human corruption and greed.

I submit that "a more excellent way"  to peace through living God's laws of love (1 Corinthians 12:31).

All wrong acts or sins boil down to this: We fail to love God whole-heartedly or we fail to love our fellow human beings equally. Does that sound familiar? It should, because that's always been the standard God's law required.

God said "I am the Alpha and Omega," which means he is the beginning and the end. He saw the first wave hit the seashore and he'll see the last one after we're all gone. That same eternity applies to his laws.
 
God should be loved and worshipped with all of our hearts because of who he is. And because he made us equally in his image, we should love and treat others as equals--all nationalities, all races, all ages, and both sexes.
 
God's Law for relationships has never changed. However, in terms of his relationship to human beings, he revealed it progressively in history. In Old Testament times, it took the form of the Ten Commandments as found in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5.

The first three or four emphasize supreme love for God:

• Never have any other god,
• Don't worship things (idols),
• Never use the name of the Lord your God carelessly,
• Remember to rest and worship.

The last six or seven tell us how to love each other:

• Honor your father and your mother,
• Never murder,
• Never commit adultery (or any other sexual sin),
• Never steal,
• Never lie,
• Never covet.

Years later, Jesus brought the Ten Commandments down to two commands: "Love the Lord your God will all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important commandment. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as you love yourself. All of Moses' Teachings and the Prophets depend on these two commandments" (Matthew 22:37-40).

In the age of grace, Paul then brought it all down to one word: "Therefore, love fulfills Moses' Teachings" (Romans 13:10).

Living a life of love--giving God due respect and devotion and giving our fellow human beings the care and respect they deserve--is the equation for peace and happiness on planet Earth. This is God's behavioral standard, and it should be the basis for all civil laws.
 
The more a nation follows this principle, the greater the blessing and freedom. The more we fail to live this life of love, the more we suffer in relation to each other.

Our world talks a lot about love. Deep down, most of us agree that love is the answer to our relationship problems.

But love is not fuzzy sentiment, lustful interest, or good vibes. It's keeping the commandments of God with an awakened heart and a willing mind. It's treating people as we want them to treat us in speech, conduct, manners, example, forgiveness, confession, thought and action.

Many years ago, Rockford, Illinois businessman Harry Conn told a group of young missionaries an incredible true story about Carmen D'Angelo. D'Angelo was a devout Italian businessman who owned a struggling lumber yard outside Rome during World War II.  Late one evening, while working in his second story office, he spotted two men stealing some lumber in the yard below. Quietly walking downstairs, and coming upon the thieves, he asked:
 
"Do you fellas need some help?" Surprised, and not understanding who the unexpected intruder might be, one of the robbers blurted out, "Sure, buddy.  Can you give us a hand with this load?"
 
"Of course," Carmen replied, and proceeded to help them load the get-a-away vehicle.
 
When the heist was completed, the robber turned to the new found helper and asked, "Now who might you be?"
 
Carmen replied matter-of-factly, "I'm the owner of this lumberyard that you are stealing from."
 
Before the quaking thieves could regain their composure, Carmen shared how Jesus had commanded his followers to love their enemies, and do good to those who hurt them.
 
"That's why I helped you load my own lumber," he concluded. "I wanted you to understand the unconditional love of God for your souls."
 
With tears streaming their cheeks, both would-be thieves knelt on the darkened pavement and yielded their lives to this God of love. 
 
A loving life can only be attempted with a renewed mind and a lot of help from God. Look at these encouragements from the Bible:

"I'm giving you a new commandment: Love each other in the same way that I have loved you. Everyone will know you are my disciples because of your love for each other" (John 13:34,35).

"Love sincerely. Hate evil. Hold on to what is good. Be devoted to each other like a loving family. Excel in showing respect for each other." (Romans 12:9-10).

"Dear friends, we must love each other because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born from God and knows God. The person that doesn't love doesn't know God because God is love" (1 John 4:7,8).

Commit yourself to love God supremely and your fellow humans equally. The world desperately needs to see loving people with consistency of conscience. You can do it! His commands are not burdensome (1 John 5:3)--they are life-giving to the world.
 
God designed you to live a life of love. Drawing from His power and sufficiency with a clear and caring conscience, let's walk in the freedom of love.
 
There is no higher or more fulfilling way. It's the path of God--who is love.

It's a more excellent way.