Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

June 27
Friday


DO NO HARM

READ:
Romans 13:8-10
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Love does no harm to
a neighbor; therefore
love is the fulfillment
of the law.
__Romans 13:10
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Many consider the ancient Greek physician Hippocrages as the father of Western medicine. He understood the importance of following moral principles in the practice of medicine, and is credited with writing the Hippocratic Oath, which still serves as an ethical guide for today's medical doctors. One key concept of the oath is "to do no harm." It implies that a physician will do only what he thinks will benefit his patients.

The principle of doing no harm extends to our relationships with others in everyday life. In fact, benevolence is central to New Testament teaching about loving others. In reflecting on the law of God, Paul sees that love is the intent behind many biblical commands: "Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law" (Rom. 13:10).

Each day as we follow Jesus Christ our savior, we are faced with choices that will affect the lives of others. When we choose a course of action, we should ask ourselves, "Does this reflect Christ's concern for others, or am I only concerned for myself?" Such a sensitivity demonstrates the love of Christ that seeks to heal the broken and help those in need. __Dennis Fisher

``````````````````Lord, I admit that it is easy to be consumed with my```````````````````
``````````````````own wants and needs. Thank you that You showed````````````````````
````````````````````us how to be concerned for others too. Help me```````````````````
``````````````````````to follow Your example in caring for others.`````````````````````
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Caring for the burdens of others helps us to forget
about our own.

*********************Today's Bible Reading __ Romans 13:8-10********************
8 Owe no one anything
except to love one another,
for he who loves another
has fulfilled the law. 9 For
the commandments, "You
shall not commit adultery,"
"You shall not murder,"
"You shall not steal" "You
shall not bear false
witness," "You shall not
covet," and if there is any
other commandment, are all
summed up in this saying,
namely, "You shall love
your neighbor as yourself."

10 Love does no harm to a
neighbor; therefore love is
the fulfillment of the law.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Paul's words in today's passage remind us of Jesus' words to the
young teacher of the law who asked what he needed to do to
inherit eternal life (Luke 10:25-29). Love for God and neighbor is
the epitome, fulfillment, and intention of all the laws of the Old
Testament. In Luke, Jesus went on to say who our neighbor is and
what love for that person should look like (vv.30-37). Paul does a
similar thing for the people at the church in Rome. After telling
them to love their neighbor in chapter 13, he goes on to tell them
in chapter 14 to consider the effect their actions will have on their
neighbor. Love is to guide all our actions.