Love

From my last post, i mentioned that we will be looking more closely at the elements of the fruit of the Spirit stated in Galatians 5:22,23. It is expedient that we embody the Fruit of the Spirit because it is the distinguishing factor between us and those who do not have the Holy Spirit living in them as a result of no relationship with Jesus Christ. It is also necessary to know that we can grow in the Fruit of the Spirit and this is a dependent responsibility for every child of God (I am talking about everyone who has a restored relationship with God through the appropriation of the finished work of Jesus Christ). Anyway, we will start off looking at the first element of the Fruit which is called “Love”.

What is Love ?

We need to lay the foundation aright. First, God is love as we see in 1 John 4:8. Because God is love, He gives. Love gives. How does it give? Sacrificially! It cost God His only Son Jesus Christ to save those He loves even though they did not care as we see in John 1:7-10; 3:16,17; Romans 8:32. Love gives sacrificially in spite of circumstances. Now that we have this foundation right, we can notice that the extension of love flows through commitment to God and others. Love does not exist in a vacuum. It involves more than one party. Love must be expressed to other parties or else it can not be love (even if you are a big fan of self-love, you decide to show love to yourself!). It is from one to another. Understanding this helps us to extend love to others where we show commitment and decide as an act of our will, to stick with someone, sometimes for a season or a lifetime as per the agreement between both parties. Love gives sacrificially in spite of circumstances. However, it must be done with discernment and wisdom.

Why Love?

Love is from God(cf.1 John 4:7). Love is God’s nature. It is who He is. Love is because God is. God is love as we see in 1 John 4:8. Why then must we love? It is required of us to love others because we have been loved. But this must be done out of free will and not compulsion. The world today is filled with a lot of people who need love. Now, to fellow believers, we have an obligation to show love, and this must be done practically. Ephesians 4:32 says, “And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” Also, John 15:13 NKJV says, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends“.

Practically speaking, we must practice love in the way we speak(such as not speaking harshly or thinking about how the person may feel concerning how we say things); how we live with our neighbours even if they are not Christians(because if you check John 13:34,35, you’d see Jesus telling His disciples that it is by their love towards one another that people will know they are His disciples. And mind-you, this extends to us in our present day); how we show affection to our loved ones in a way that honours God and not self (this is the check to know whether it honours God: what will Jesus say or do about this? Would He be glad at how i am doing this? And this must be done prayerfully); how we live as Christians (asking yourself whether you have integrity in every facet of your life), and how we treat purity in the mind and in our actions (am i living sexually pure? Am i thinking ill of someone and why? Are my motives pure for doing what i do? In a simpler way, you can ask yourself why you do the things you do and why you don’t do the things you don’t do).

Paul the Apostle of Jesus Christ writes in 1 Timothy 4:12 NKJV, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity”. To be able to walk in love (and it is progressive so don’t be too hard on yourself, okay? Just be disciplined, that’s all.) all you need is to start from somewhere and as you engage God on that journey, He will provide circumstances to walk in love in the areas of your life you find difficulty. Circumstances are opportunities for growth. Rather, embrace the opportunity, and instead of asking why, ask God how to get through it. God is faithful, and He is more interested in your growth than yourself. Engage God. How? Through prayer. Lay everything at His feet and watch Him help you.

Self-reflection

Now, let us properly reflect. Make time to reflect and know that this is progressive (in other words, per time per season, God will help you realise what needs to be done. This is why you must engage Him every time through prayer and meditation). A few questions to help: 1) Am i walking in love? Why or why not? (Here, you want to know your status or things that have led to your status) 2) How am i/am i not walking in love? (Here, you are looking at the things that prove that you are/ are not walking in love practically) 3)How can I walk in love? (Here you are looking at the practical ways you to walk in love). I must stress the fact that you must reflect with the help of the Holy Spirit, and this is done by engaging Him through prayer before you start, through the process, and after you end. He has been waiting for you to make this decision to reflect. Don’t miss this opportunity. Make time.

Application

Once you have reflected and come to that point of realisation for all that you have now, you must make specific, measurable, achievable, time-constrained and realistic goals which must be followed by periodic monitoring (at least weekly) and evaluation (at least a month). First off, you ask, “so what am I going to do now that I know these” and then you follow it by “now what must i do” which is the point where you make goals as specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-constrained as possible. Do not generalise your application because it is not about everyone but about you. I repeat, do not generalise it. Do this prayerfully, alright? The Lord Holy Spirit will help you. He’s been waiting. Do not waste His time anymore because He is higher than any other authority that you’d rush to be on time for (such as your boss or even an assignment, or an elderly person in a place of authority). He deserves maximum respect.

Conclusion

To close chapters on this dimension of the Fruit of the Spirit, it is noteworthy to understand that God is love and we too must love because we have been loved. This must shape the way we deal with people and everything that comes our way because it is proof that we are indeed disciples of Jesus Christ. We will continue the next dimension “Joy” in my next post. Until then, make sure you have dealt with or are progressively dealing with “Love” and reflected appropriately. Don’t wait to have all the posts on the Fruit of the Spirit before you make a start. The time is now. For those who may come across this later, this is to you as well. Make a start ASAP because time waits for no man. I shall speak to you in my next post. Be expectant. The Lord bless and keep you. The Lord help you, in Jesus’ might name, amen? (Say amen!)

Shalom Shalom!