Day 12 "The Law of the Land: Love!"

The phrase law of the land is a legal term referring to all the laws in force within a country or region. For the United States, the law of the land owes its origination and implemention from the powers granted by the Constitution of the United States of America as framed by our founding fathers and consented by the legislatures of the states. It is the supreme law of the land and source of all governmental power, while also providing important limitations on the government to protect the fundamental rights of U.S. citizens. (Source: whitehouse.org)

Imagine the sitting president of the United States issuing an executive order abolishing the law of the land. Any and all laws become null and void. What do you imagine would take place? Utter chaos? Complete anarchy? A breakdown of society? Total fear? Complete destruction? Probably all of it. Now, suppose, the sitting president realized that he or she had gone too far with their authority and risked hardship for the nation. To rectify this mistake, the president decided to allow for one special edict to become the new law of the land. Given all the possible remedies that you could think of, which one would you choose to implement to bring back harmony, calmness, unity, stability, fairness, respect, and caring to the country. I submit that there would be only one edict powerful enough to self-govern an entire nation without laws. That edict would be "To Love." Contemplate through all the possible scenarios and see for yourself if love wouldn't be able to govern us.

In a world that is physical and temporary, Jesus instilled in his disciples how they should make their way through this life.

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love

one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one

another." John 13:34-35

"If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching." John 14:23

"He who does not love me will not obey my teaching." John 14:24

Written by Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit:

Love Fulfills the Law

8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,”[a] and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”[b] 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. Romans 13:8-10 NIV

"And yet I will show you the most excellent way." 1 Corinthians 12:31

"If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.8 Love never fails."

1 Corinthians 13:1-8

"Follow the way of love." 1 Corinthians 14:1

"And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one

another as he commanded us." 1 John 3:23

"For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again." 2 Corinthians 5:14-15

Most of us struggle as we go through this life in our efforts to find meaningful happiness, fulfillment, and love. But as we come closer to understanding the brevity of life and begin looking at things from an eternal perspective, we begin to see things differently and discover what things are really important. Only then, do we begin to cast aside the need to be the center of our universe and begin to focus on needs of others.

Jesus set the bar for us to follow:

"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one

than this, the he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what

I command." John 15:12-14

Jesus also said that the only way we would keep his commandments is if we love him. If you don't love Jesus yet, I invite you to get to know him better.

To love, is the highest law of the land.

It is also God's greatest gift to us.

Meet you back here tomorrow...