Law & love

One of my Pastors said, "Never forget the people's pain."  After my last post I felt confused about how abortion could happen like this and how to react.  I tried to put myself in the shoes of the women who would do this.  All sorts of reasons came to mind: a young girl trying to undo a horrible mistake with a boyfriend, a family with barely enough food on the table for all the kids they have.  Despair and heartbreak.  There are other options.  Marriage and having children, used to be so easy to understand.  Now it's a topic of debate.  We have a message to share.  God loves and forgives.  He restores.  People are of great value to Him.  So much so, God became a sacrifice to save us.  


I respect God's laws and know they were given to us out of love, to protect and prosper us.  God intended us to obey the law and to have compassion for others.


Burying my head in the sand just doesn't seem right.  This song says it well Jesus Friend of Sinners (link) .

John 5

After the paralytic told the leaders who healed him, Jesus didn't run and hide.

16 For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath. 17 But Jesus answered them, “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.”
I imagine Jesus being calm at this point.  He had said before, "I and the Father are one."  But, how did the leaders miss the miracle?  They must've been blinded by their passion to follow the law.


18 Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God. 19 Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. 20 For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel. 21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will.
As I read the story of the religious leaders, I imagine people who feel they need to keep everyone under control.  They were so worried about making sure people followed the law, they became obsessed.  They even told the paralytic he couldn't carry his mat on the Sabbath!!?  They should've been rejoicing that God had healed him.  Wow!  I believe these things are written for us today.  It's so easy to judge others, but we've all sinned.  Point one finger at someone else and 3 point at me...  One of the hardest things with faith is believing God can and will help another person.


This is a favorite story of mine, the explanation of how the law and love work together is so great.  I imagine a perfectly dressed man that sounds like his nose is pinched when he talks, "Teacher."  Sorta like the show off in grade school.

Luke 10:25-37
25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”  

26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”


27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”


28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”


29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”


30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’


36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”


37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”


Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

Speaks volumes about the stuff we're facing today, doesn't it?


Feel free to comment if something comes to mind. : )


Edits 6-9-12 Changed the title and added explanation of what I meant.  Thanks so much for feedback : )