In Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis sheds his practical light on The Rule of Love. "The rule for all of us is perfectly simple. Do not waste time bothering whether you love your neighbor, act as if you did, as soon as we do this, we find one of the greatest secrets.” When we behave like we love someone, we will come to love, or hate less. When we base our deeds on faith and love in the grand scheme of life, God reveals to us the good.
How do we faith it until we make it? Prayer is our litmus test to see where we stand with the Lord. When we pray we should examine our lives to see what we do with our intentions. When we busy ourselves trying to live pure lives in a way just so that others may admire our dedication we are on shaky ground. Then again there are times when our hearts are filled with anxiety and anger, our hearts get darkened, and in the end faith in God becomes a struggle. Sometimes, we find ourselves listening to all the perfect precepts but never practicing them. This usually leads us to pointless contemplation and controversy, and we sometimes find ourselves leading double lives. How can we lead transformed lives?
Jesus Christ alone through the Holy Spirit working in our hearts and minds can bring about this transformation. We ask the Holy Spirit to come into our lives and direct us to do His will. What is the will of God? Jesus clearly tells us that the Golden Rule is to love God and our neighbor (Mark 12:30-31). It is in these relationships of love that our faith resides. St. Paul further illustrates this by saying that if he has the gifts of tongues but no love within him, he is nothing but a clanging cymbal or noisy gong (1 Corinthians 13:1). He ends the chapter saying three remain in his heart, faith, hope and love, the greatest of these is love (1 Corinthians 13:13).
To St. Paul, the essence of it all was faith expressing itself in love (Gal 5:6). When we lead our lives closely governed by the law, we become a slave to the law. But if we live our lives governed by the gospel of grace we find ourselves free to love and forgive. Seeing through the lens of love our thoughts and actions find a new reality in life. Our focus is no longer on the law but on our relationship with Jesus Christ and others.
We must see faith and love as gifts from God. Using these gifts in our daily lives will lead to a beautiful fruitful life. Faith that leads us to deeds of love is to base our work on the Golden Rules of Love.
Prayer
Lord please draw near to us, that we may come to know you and open our hearts to your presence in our inner being. Ignite our darkened hearts and minds haunted by anxieties and fears with the light of your love. May we by your grace come to love you and our neighbors. Amen
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