Love or Hate Sunday, October 20, 2024

The 10 Commandments say, “Thou shalt not.” The Heidelberg Catechism expands those commandments to our thoughts and motives, and it explores the positive outcomes of fully keeping the commandments. “You shall not kill” becomes “Love our neighbors as ourselves, to be patient, peace-loving, gentle, merciful, and friendly toward them, to protect them from harm… ” God’s transformation of his people replaces hate, envy, and anger with self-giving love. Such an attitude adjustment requires also a readiness to forgive.