Laws, laws, laws… I’ve read enough! And I am getting a sense of the true freedom Jesus offered. If the Son sets you free you will be free indeed (John 8:36). We all know that a certain amount of laws are necessary, especially if my life, security and liberty are threatened. We humans don’t get along. We have a propensity to hurt others and to put ourselves before others. Not me, mind you. But the other guys out there – you know, the bad guys. And if I do any harm, it certainly is not as harmful as what others have done! Or is it? And thus, the reason laws became necessary. I’m not sure about the death penalty for speaking harshly to your parents. I’m glad that one was not enforced during my childhood.

Jesus would announce that all of the laws could be summarized in two commands. That sounds a whole lot easier than keeping track of everything found in the book of Leviticus, until we hear the two commands. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. (Matthew 22:37-39)

I long for a world like that. God longs for a world like that. God calls me (and you) to be the one(s) to start living that world (i.e. kingdom of God). And to do that, Paul’s words will become my words as well: I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me – the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace (Acts 20:24)

Be bold!