The Fruit of the Spirit: Love Part 3
by Daniel Burton
It seems that at some point people got the idea that loving someone meant an implicit acceptance of everything they do. A person is viewed as the summation of their actions and their desires. Thus, to love a person is thought to be accepting of everything they are and everything they desire to be. Nothing could be further from the truth of the Gospel. The love of God is a multifaceted and complex love that surpasses understanding, comprehension, and ability. For those of us who have received the Spirit of God, the outpouring of love is a similar love for all mankind. Love does not mean a person will never experience any negative emotion because love does not limit itself to merely emotions. Instead, often times, love involves the rebuke and discipline of God because of His love for His people and His desire to not see them remain in their sin. Furthermore, our love for our brothers and sisters in Christ and for the world as a whole, remains to speak up against injustice and sin as the mouthpiece of God and to hold one another account fo our actions. This love links arms with the rest of mankind and rushes towards the perfect relationship with Jesus Christ.
And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. Because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live!
God’s Discipline As An Act of Love
When parents discipline their children, it is not out of ruthlessness or a desire to cause pain to their children. Ultimately, the goal is to train the child to avoid a lifetime of pain from the pursuits of selfishness. It is an act of love to discipline a child and train them in the way they should go. Similarly, with God, our Heavenly Father, He too disciplines His children. Our actions have consequences that God allows us to endure. Even during the discipline, though, God’s presence does not depart from us but rather walks us through the discipline. At no point does Christ abandon His people, even when they have walked astray. At the core of the Gospel is a God who loves his people during sin and rejection to guide them towards the fullness of life that God has set before us all out of His great love for us.
God’s love guides and protects His people. We are saved from the ultimate consequences of our sin, an eternity of separation of God, we are subject to God’s discipline. Sin is a disease that afflicts all mankind that we wholeheartedly chase towards from our fleshly nature. When we come to Christ, we are given a new heart to chase after our heavenly Father. Through His love, He guides us and teaches us to pursue Him with all of His might. When we step out of bounds, we have a God who will discipline us for our sake. God’s love for us goes beyond stepping back and allow His people to continually run head first into sin and despair. God’s love guides Him to intervene in our lives in every step.
Accountability As An Outpouring of God’s Love
As we seek to exhibit the Fruit of Love in our lives, we too exhibit the same love that God gave to us. We too are to be account for and with one another. Many hide behind the love of people as a means to not discuss the issues of sin within each other’s lives. Love does not allow a person to continue in their sin but corrects them gently in love. This does not mean allowing every sin to run rampant in a person’s life, this is called apathy, not love. Nor does it mean casting judgment and derision on a person for their sin, this is called wrath and contempt. Love is neither of these things and inserts itself into the details of a person’s life. Especially during times of sin. “Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:1-2, NIV)
The fulfillment of the law of Christ is love. Every act that Christ did for the people, even the ones that brought conviction and asked for change was motivated by love. Love for one another doesn’t end in the midst of sin, just as it did not end God’s love for us. As the love of God flows through us as the fruit of Love flows through us, means we stick with our spiritual family through the good and the bad. We walk each other through sin and help one another to give strength. Love is displayed by our treatment of other people as they struggle through sin. God’s standard of perfection is His holiness. His means of salvation is love. And His hands work through ours as we stand with one another in love and discipline as we all pursue God together.
For more in this series, check out The Fruit of the Spirit
