Monday Reflection – November 16, 2020 Love – A Core Attribute of Holiness
Monday Reflection – November 16, 2020
Love – A Core Attribute of Holiness
You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbour as yourself: I am the Lord. Leviticus 19:18
The book of Leviticus contains the laws which were to guide the people of God in their everyday actions and activities. Today’s Watchword is located in chapter 19, which interestingly begins with the call by God for His people to be holy. The word ‘holy’ means to be separate, apart or different from. So God is different from all others, different in His being and different in the greatness and majesty of His attributes. Yet, because humans are made in the image of God, they can follow in His steps and also be holy. In this context, Israel was to be different, separate from the nations and peoples around them.
Within this context of holiness is the command to love one’s neighbour. Verse 17 begins, “You shall not hate in your heart anyone of your kin…” Love for others is commanded, not only in action but also in heart. This is so because it is out of our hearts that our words and actions flow, thus we have to begin there. Love demands that we not take vengeance against others. Romans 12:19 says that vengeance belongs to God; therefore, there is a sense in which we can hold back God’s work of vengeance upon others by seeking it ourselves. Love demands that we exercise forgiveness and restraint. Love also demands that we not bear a grudge against others. Admittedly, it is easy for many to cherish a grudge against another, especially when it is deserved; but too much damage is done to the one holding the grudge.
The charge to love one another is all over the Bible, both in the Old and New Testaments. The significance of the call to love our neighbour as ourselves is highlighted by the fact that Jesus and Paul both cited this verse as a summary of the duties one has to his fellow human being (Matthew 22:39-40, Romans 13:9). Further, Jesus commanded us to love our enemies (Luke 6:27), and showed that our neighbours are the ones in need, even if they might be regarded as a traditional enemy (Luke 10:25-37). Love demands that the same way we take care of ourselves and are concerned about our own interests, we should take care and have concern for the interests of others.
This command to love in the text seems like a summary of what was being outlined before. Loving our neighbours is about:
- Providing for the poor by leaving fields incompletely harvested (vs. 9-10)
- Honest dealings with others (vs. 11-13)
- Basic human compassion (vs. 14)
- Justice and truthfulness (vs. 15-16)
Admittedly, the demands of holiness and love are great and cannot be achieved on our own. The indwelling presence and power of the Holy Spirit is required to fulfill these demands. We pray that God will transform us into holy creatures who demonstrate His genuine love to others. Amen.
Jermaine Gibson