Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
In the introduction to this series, we described the “fruit of the Spirit” as the nine visible attributes of a believer that are being produced in us as we yield to Holy Spirit. Love is the first of these attributes as it encompasses all the other fruits of the Spirit. The Apostle John makes an awesome claim when he writes that “God is love”.
1 John 4:8 (NIV)
8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
1 John 4:16 (NIV)
16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.
God is love. This reality has a huge impact on the way that we are to live as His children because He wants us to love like He does. When Jesus is asked about the most important commandment in the law, His answer is twofold: Love God and love your neighbor as yourself.
Matthew 22:34-40 (NIV)
34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
When the expert in the law asked Jesus this question, he was probably expecting the first part of the answer since Jesus was quoting from Deuteronomy 6:4-9, a passage known as the Shema which had become the Jewish confession of faith.
Deuteronomy 6:4-9 (NIV)
4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
But Jesus then adds something that went beyond what was specifically asked, saying, “And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’ ”. This was not a new commandment since Jesus was quoting Leviticus 19:18.
Leviticus 19:18 (NIV)
18 “‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.
It appears the religious leaders of the day had not put these two verses together before. Jesus raised “love your neighbor” to a much higher level of importance. He wants us to love like He does.
More than a Feeling
Biblical love is not merely a feeling, it is about what we do.
Matthew 7:12 (NIV)
12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
If you only love when you feel like it, you are not experiencing the supernatural love that is a fruit of the Spirit. Holy Spirit empowers us to love in actions and in words. Jesus develops this concept in a “new command”:
John 13:34 (NIV)
34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
What was new about this command? The second half of the verse changes everything, “As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” When Jesus says, “love one another,” He means for us to walk in love even when it is not easy and He models this in His life and ministry.
Matthew 20:28 (NIV)
28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
John 15:13 (NIV)
13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
Jesus laid down His time and energy continually, and then laid down His very life for those He loved. The love of God must be produced in us by Holy Spirit and then flow out of us to those around us.
Steve Lawes is a Church Consultant and also provides coaching for pastors, churches, ministries and church planters.
