LOVEMatthew 22:37 Love is a fruit of the Holy Spirit from the first cluster. Along with joy and peace, these fruits especially speak to our relationship toward God. I wonder if it is important that love is listed first among the fruits of the Holy Spirit?
What it meansAgapee is the Greek word. Agapee is always translated love in English. Love is an action, not a feeling. 1 Corinthians 13 has the best description of what love means. Love: There are 16 different descriptors for love. Eight of them are positive, what love is or does. Eight of them are negative, what love is not. I think Paul explained it this way so that I would be able to accurately assess the quality of my love. If he only included “what love is not,” I would try to avoid the negative actions, but not necessarily engage in positive behaviors. And likewise, if he only included “what love is or does,” I would try to engage in positive behaviors, but not necessarily avoid the negative actions. Love requires both.
Why its importantIn his book, “The Holy Spirit: Activating God's Power in Your Life," Billy Graham says “There should be no more distinctive mark of the Christian than love.” Without love, I can not be seen as a Christian.Love is so important because, among other things: * Love is more important than faith or hope (1 Corinthians 13:13) * God is love! (1 John 4:8, 16)
How to do itHere are some of my favorite ways to practice love.1. Obey God's commands The process is pretty straightforward in John 14:21: Obedience to God is love for God!
2. Love myself Yes, I said “love myself.” Not in a narcissistic way, but in a healthy way. The second great command is to “love my neighbor as myself.” (Matthew 22:39) If I don't love myself very much I won't take care of myself. And if I don't take care of myself well, then I won't take care of my neighbor well. It doesn't say to love my neighbor more than myself. It doesn't say to love my neighbor less than myself. It says to love my neighbor as much as I love myself. To look out for my neighbors needs as much as I look out for my own needs. I need to have a healthy appreciation for who God has made me to be. I need to believe that I matter to God and that He has a plan to use my life. I need to take care of myself so I can accomplish God's plan. I need to take care of my neighbor so my neighbor can accomplish God's plan for their life.
3. Give people the benefit of the doubt. I need to think the best of other people. I am tempted to jump to the conclusion that people do things to me with evil intent. The fact is, most of the time they are not even thinking about me or the impact their behavior has on me. Philippians 4:8 tells me to think about whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy. When I think about other people's motives, I want to give them the benefit of the doubt. I want to think noble, lovely, and admirable thoughts about the actions of others. I want to believe that they acted in my best interest. I want to believe the best in them. I want to chose to believe that they love me as much as they love themselves.
4. Avoid envy by giving God the benefit of the doubt. I need to believe that God has made me who I am. I need to believe that I am made exactly the way God wanted. I don't need to envy what others have because I have everything I need from God. In Romans 9:20,21 Paul asked, “But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to him that formed it. 'Why did you make me like this?' Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?” God is God. He can make me for any purpose He wants. I need to be o.k. with that.
5. Be patient.
Practical discipleship tips on patience
6. Be kind.
Practical discipleship tips on kindness
7. Never give up Some people will choose to give up loving God. “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.” (Matthew 24:12) Many of Jesus disciples “turned back and no longer followed him.” (John 6:66) Persevering in loving God is a commitment. It has to be re-examined and renewed often. In 1 Corinthians 15:58, Paul said “Stand firm. Always give yourselves to the work of the Lord because you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” It is worth it to persevere. I made a commitment to persevere in loving God until the end of my life, even if no one else around me did the same. You should make the same commitment and remind yourself of it often. Write it in your Bible next to 1 Corinthians 15:58, or Hebrews 12:1-4. When I am tempted to give up, quit, or just take a break, God brings to mind Hebrews 12:3,4. It requests that I, “Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” I am further reminded, “In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.” Jesus Christ resisted sin to the point of shedding blood. I can surely resist sin one more minute, or one more hour, or one more day. How about you?
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Posted on November 7, 2008
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