God's reverence, respect, invitation to care for one's neighbors

March 23, Wednesday of the Third Week of Lent
Readings: Deuteronomy 4:1, 5-9 & Gospel: Matthew 5:17-19

Reverence and respect are the signs of love. Jesus instructed to follow God's law: reverence for God himself, for the Lord's Day, reverence or respect for parents, respect for life, for property, for another person's good name, respect for oneself and one's neighbor, lest wrong or hurtful desires master us. Reverence and respect for God's commandments lead us to the way of love—love of God and love of neighbor (Matthew 22:37–39).

The transforming work of the Holy Spirit is significant in our daily lives. What we think is impossible is possible for God and those who have faith and trust in God. Through the gift of the Holy Spirit, the Lord converts us and makes us like himself. We are a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17) because "God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, which has been given to us" (Romans 5:5). God bestows us with the grace to love as he loves, to forgive as he forgives, to think as he thinks, and to act as he acts.

Jesus is a just and reasonable man who despises all forms of wickedness and sin. He desires to liberate us from our sinful desires and habits so that we can choose to live each day in the peace, joy, and righteousness of his Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17). Renouncing sin entails purging our minds, hearts, and lives of anything harmful and destructive.

Do we love and revere the commands of the Lord? As his followers, meaning Christians, we must love and respect his commandments and hate every form of sin. The controls are, "Love your neighbors and your God."

Let us turn away from our sinful habits during this Lenten season by loving God and our neighbors and obeying His commandments.

Think of one person who awaits your respect and care. Show it today.