The Tiring Thing about Do’s and Don’ts

Hello Royalty!

I cannot count 5 people on my fingers who just love rules and regulations. Everyone seems to get tired of them. For the most part, I think people hate to be told what to do, especially when they feel forced to do it. At a younger age, when I was “old enough” to wash the dishes, I would find myself thinking of washing the dishes, and just as soon as I was done making that decision or in the process of doing so, my mum would tell me to do the dishes. Suddenly, I wouldn’t feel like doing it anymore. It was nothing special – just me not wanting to be told what to do.

But, you see, the interesting thing is that we really can’t get on with life successfully or get to a desired destination if we do not want to be told what to do. A few years down the line, I’ve learned that it’s okay to be told to wash the dishes even if I was thinking about it. Nobody knows my thoughts after all, so what’s the fuss? Okay, why am I saying all of this?

Photo by marianne bos on Unsplash

In the month of May, precisely on the 11th, the Holy Spirit said to me, “the don’ts dissolve in love.” In Romans 13:8-10, the KJV says, 

“8 Owe no man anything but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.”

TPT says, 

“8 Don’t owe anything to anyone, except your outstanding debt to continually love one another, [a] for the one who learns to love has fulfilled every requirement of the law. 9 For the commandments, “Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not covet,” [b] and every other commandment can be summed up in these words:

“Love and value others the same way you love and value yourself.” [c]

10 Love makes it impossible to harm another, so love fulfills all that the law requires.

Now, I’m not a scientist, but here’s a perspective I want you to see it from. In chemistry, there’s something called dissolution. Then, there are terms like “solute” and “solvent” which come together to make a solution. In every solution, the solute is the thing that gets dissolved, and the solvent does the dissolving. For this post, our solute is “dos and don’ts” and our solvent is “love.” Then, we are going to take solution for what it really means i.e. a solution to a problem.

Photo by Tyler Nix on Unsplash

These two claims have been proven when it comes to dissolution:

  • Like dissolves like, that is, a polar substance will dissolve in another polar substance e.g. water and ammonia

In Matthew 5:17, the Bible says, “‘Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose.'” (NLT). Jesus made it clear that the laws – the dos and don’ts had a purpose, and we can take that purpose to mean becoming one with other people and with God. Jesus, however, came to accomplish that purpose by summing up all those rules in LOVE. So, we have a new reality which says, “You don’t have to worry about following some rules. You only need to love God, love yourself, and love your neighbor as yourself.” And you know why this is enough? Because racism, rape, bigotry, tribalism, colorism and all the negative -isms could never ever be a product of love!

“LIKE DISSOLVES LIKE” Love simply takes up the duties of “dos and don’ts,” So, instead of thinking about how much we can get away with and “still be saved,” we realize that we are called to a life of love.

  • The higher the temperature, the faster the dissolubility

Now, I love this fact so much because it shows us that we play a part in determining what happens. We see what transpires when people speak up and show up either on the front lines or in their own homes. It gets somewhere! It aids the solution. It makes the solute dissolve faster in the solvent. When the Bible says, “Love covers the multitude of sins,” it doesn’t mean sin is absent. It means the presence of love is stronger. It means there is a bigger drive for things to be made right. A life lived in love overshadows a life lived in constant fear of rules and regulations. Yes, Love is the fulfillment of the law, and if we are going to put an end to all the dos and don’ts in the world, then our actions must stem from a place of love!

As I wrap up this post, I’ll like you to know that you have a part to play and so do I. If that part is not rooted in love, then we are simply throwing everything to the wall with hope that something sticks. Love loves their culture, but because love will also love their neighbor as themselves, then love loves other people’s cultures. Love makes an effort to educate themselves about fighting racism. Love travails in the place of prayer for healing in the land. Love chooses to do things with excellence so others can benefit. Love forgets the dos and don’ts, because love is the solvent and the dos and don’ts are already embedded in love, dissolved to become a solution! Love speaks up for the loved. God’s law is LOVE. And above all, love will always win.

Goodbye Royalty,

With Overflowing Love,

Alexandra Zion.

About the author
Christocentric. Academic. Writer. Poet

6 Comments

  1. “The don’ts dissolve in Love.” How true!!!! ?
    Lately, I’ve experiencing this! I prepare to love before contrary situations/people show up. Hasn’t been the rosiet. Still, it has been so rewarding. Thanks for this reminder Sis!

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