Love is a verb…

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:43–48)

What does Jesus want when He tells me this? Do I simply greet these enemies with a smile, nothing more? I’ve been “loved” like this by clerks in a store. Love is far more than being nice. As He says, anyone can do that and yet inwardly not care about my well-being at all. That is not love. Jesus describes a different attitude:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.” (Matthew 5:38–42)

I read of a soldier whose girl friend wrote asking for her photo returned as she had found someone else. He was hurt and angry so he asked the guys in his barracks for any photos they might have of ex-girl friends. He sent all of them to her with a note that said, “I don’t remember which one is yours, so keep it and return the rest.”

Not funny. No love. Revenge is easy. Just ignore the person, or talk about them behind their back. Get even. Blah, blah blah.

Love is going above and beyond. It is not even doing what I think they might want, but doing what they do want and more. It is giving generously to their needs. Think of God's love. He poured out His life to love me. Saying the words is lovely but dying on a cross for me? That is love.
I might never experience an enemy whose life depends on my sacrifice, but I know that my life is not to be the selfishness of getting even or ignoring those who hurt me or treat me badly. It is being like Jesus even if their rejection continues. 

This is a level of maturity and a test that is most challenging. Feeling appreciated and accepted is a human need. When denied, hopelessness easily moves in as a most unwelcome guest. Turning to love those who are thoughtless toward me is hard enough. As the OT prophet asks: “If you have raced with men on foot, and they have wearied you, how will you compete with horses? And if in a safe land you are so trusting, what will you do in the thicket of the Jordan?” (Jeremiah 12:5) He implies that if I cannot do this with petty incidents that hurt my feelings, how can I perfectly love those who are far more unkind or who persecute me?

Jesus makes this a standard for all kind of obedience. He says, “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?” (Luke 16:10–11)

Even an exercise program or any kind of study and instruction will begin with the basics. God is like that in training me to be like Jesus. He uses all things toward that end. And I complain? Shame on me.

Oh Lord, the lessons of the past few weeks have left me tired and wanting to run away from life. I see most things that happened as “little” and yet whine? Truly I am ashamed of being so weary when many others are experiencing far worse when it comes to opposition. Grant me forgiveness, cleansing, and greater grace and love toward all. Instead of expecting them to meet my need for acceptance, enable me to meet their need to be loved.

Fear can become a habit

Fear is not necessarily experienced as extreme terror. Sometimes we become so accustomed to it, that it simply becomes part of the way we live. 
 

For instance, I am aware that sticking my finger in a light socket could lead to pain or even death. Fearing that consequence, I avoid putting my finger in light sockets. I’m not terrified of them (yet at one point, I could have been, such as the day I found out this is a dangerous activity). However, this fear governs what I do around danger. 

Fear over consequences is part of living in safety and, in most cases, this is a sensible fear. However, God warns His people about the fear that keeps us from loving others. This is not sensible.

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. (1 John 4:18)

While fear usually begins as an emotion or feeling, the perfect love of God is never mere emotion. It is a love (agape) that takes action for the eternal well-being of others. This can be done with or without any feelings of affection. It is the love that motivated God to love the world and send Jesus to die for us. It is also the love that He tells His people to have for one another. We even are told to give up our lives for others if their eternal well-being depends on it. This love is from God, not possible in our own selves.

Agape love never fears what might happen to me when I sacrifice my own interests to show the love of God to someone else. It involves complete confidence that God will take care of my needs as I give myself to the needs of others. Agape love never worries about consequences or loss because there is no motive for personal gain behind it. I trust God so am not concerned or in fear about my personal needs. This is the kind of love that took Jesus to the cross. 

Besides that, this love cannot exist in a fearful heart. Fear will keep me from objective care for others because it is focused on me. It involves the threat of loss, even a concern that if I don’t do something, God will punish me. This fear keeps me from agape love because it is self-centered.

The fear in this verse is phobos, a Greek word from which we get phobia. While that word  connotes terror, I think again about light sockets and realize how subtle fear can be. Any “fear” of being shocked isn’t experienced as a terror even though it governs what I do around exposed electricity. What about fearing punishment?

It is easier to see in others. For instance, a few people in my family belong to a cult. They are told that if they do not do as their organization says, they will be lost to God and have no hope for this life or eternal life. In fear of that consequence, they do what they are told to do, and even believe what they are told to believe. Their fear governs their actions and inaction, yet as they live with it, they have become accustomed to thinking the way they do about their religion. They are comfortable with it, seemingly unaware that they are driven by fear rather than love. 

Lest I point my fingers and forget that 1 John was written to Christians, I must think about my own life. Am I afraid that if I don’t live a certain way, God will “get me” for my neglect? More to the point, do I fear that I will be punished if I don’t read my Bible today, or if I don’t pray as I normally pray? Will the Lord slap me around or take away my rewards if I fail to go to church next week or refuse to go on a church committee? Do I study so I can help someone else in their quest for God? Or do I study because I am afraid God will be angry with me if I don’t know all the answers? Do fears like that drive me to any or all spiritual disciplines and duties rather than being motivation by God’s love for other people? 

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Lord, just thinking of those questions is a hint that fear is sometimes in my life, motivating me rather than love. I’m sometimes afraid that You will not bless my day if I skip or skimp in prayer that day. I sometimes do things because I “should” rather than because I care. But my Christian life is not about me. It is about You and sharing Your love with others. In You, my relationship with the Father is secure and not dependent on what I do. For that reason, any fear of being punished is a mark of fleshy living. I can see that my prayer time is supposed to flow out of a loving concern for others, an agape love that is willing to sacrifice time and energy for their well-being. I see how fear is subtle, but it can turns spiritual habits into duty and ritual instead of making them acts of love. Forgive me.

A love beyond what I can do

Those who care for elderly or ill family members are told that they cannot do this care by themselves. They will burn out from the stress of it and not be able to carry on. At present, at least three of my family are in this situation. A man in his nineties is taking care of his wife who has severe dementia. A wife is caring for her spouse who has had a stroke and is unable to think straight. A husband is caring for his wife who has a severe illness. 

As I watch them, I wonder about the advice given to caregivers. Is this a cultural admonition based on the busyness of North American life? Have people lost the capacity to care for their loved ones?

A few years ago, both my parents lived in our home. After a year, they moved into a residence for retired people, and from there to a care facility. I was criticized by one person who told me that in other cultures, the burden of family care is seldom passed on to the government or social agencies. The family did it and I was wrong to “put my parents in an old folks’ home.” 

I felt guilty, but at the same time knew that my father was okay with outside help. He would never accept family care when it came to giving him a bath. How could I push that against his own wishes? 

Yet in the Bible, the Lord exhorts His people to care for each other. The burdens are not always related to health or other infirmities, yet regardless of the burden, the attitude I’m supposed to have toward those in need is clear from today’s verse, and from the others that follow it.

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:2)

For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Galatians 5:14)

We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. (Romans 15:1)

And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. (1 Thessalonians 5:14)

And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother. (1 John 4:21)

Love isn’t about cultural norms, nor is it about warm, fuzzy feelings. Clearly, it is about helping someone else with their struggles, sometimes at great personal cost. It is also putting the best interests of other people at the top of the list, not doing what I want, but what that other person needs.

I’m impressed by my relative who cares for his wife with dementia. He knows that she is severely confused. Moving her out of her home would increase her confusion to the point that she would be in great stress. He loves her too much to do that to her. Somehow, in that self-sacrificial love, he finds the strength.

I’m also impressed by the woman who cares for her husband. She put him in a care facility, knowing that if she kept him at home, she could not provide 24/7 care and would eventually burn out herself. She does not want to leave him without anyone to help him with his burdens. She loves him too much to do that.

Deciding the best way to love others and bear burdens is not easy. The man who has been caring for his ill wife has not looked for or accepted help. He felt this was his duty, yet he has burned out and now in the hospital. His family must now make arrangements for night nurses and home care to take over his role. He admits that in trying to keep up the appearance of being “okay” he failed the one he loves and now cannot do anything to care for her. 

How can I obey God in loving others without falling apart? Part of the answer is in the fact that this love God asks me to give is not about me or from me. It is not about feelings, or any self-determination, or what I can do on my own. This love is agape, the love of God that is “shed abroad in the heart” of those who believe in Jesus Christ. He was willing to die for my sin. I cannot muster up or make happen that kind of love. It must flow from Him through me. Yet because He lives in me, such great love is available. 

I also think about why God wants me to do this. Of course love gives good things that others need. It is never about what I might get out of it. This love also has great purpose in that it demonstrates the love of Jesus Christ so others can see what He is like. One other reason is that this love of God speaks volumes about me and all those who can love in this burden-bearing way . . .

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. (John 13:34–35)

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Lord, I know that I cannot love as You command apart from believing in You and abiding in Christ. Your love is different from human love. It stands out because of its eternal source and everlasting quality. It is a love without limits because You love everyone, even Your enemies. While we were still sinners, You died for us. Because of Your love, I can depend on You to help me know and do what is the best for others. I can put aside all my “I wants” and lift burdens because You graciously give the strength and the love needed to do it.  

To Live is Christ — ultimate lover

Romance novels are popular, but not with me. That tension of “does he (or she) love me, or not” isn’t as interesting to me as a who-done-it plot. I already know how to discern love. Discerning a culprit isn’t as simple!

Sorting out love, at least objectively from the pages of a story, is relatively easy. If my personal emotions are not clouding or confusing the issue, I know that love is not about words. Does the lover show it in actions?

Actually, Jesus gives the ultimate expression of love. This is stated in the context of my devotional verse for today.

By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. (1 John 3:16–19)

Jesus proved that He loves us by giving His life for us, literally. While that literalness might not be called for in my lifetime, He still expects me to be willing to offer sacrificial love for those He places in my path. If someone is needy and I can supply that need, love will do it. Real love will cost me something and real love means laying down that something, whatever it is.

Loving self-sacrifice can mean giving just about anything. A moment of time on a busy day is just as much a sacrifice as a hundred dollars from a dwindling bank account. Giving up what I want or think I need is an act of love.

Not that love in action is unpleasant. Even non-Christian people know that doing things for others can make us feel good. However, the Bible isn’t talking about that as a motivation. If I only ‘love’ others because there is something in it for me, then I’m not loving them at all.

That self-focus is more like the ‘love’ depicted in most romance novels and in movies and television. It is generally a “feel-good, I love what she/he does for me” kind of emotion. The Bible calls for a love that goes far beyond that.

If asked to make a list of the things people have done to show me that they love me, the life and death of Jesus Christ would be first. However, there are others that stand out in my mind. When I was near-death as a child, in the middle of the night one of them was always in the big chair beside my bed, awake, watching me. The hospital was 25 miles from our farm home and I had three siblings. Being there was a sacrifice.

I remember a hand-crafted gift from a person who was too busy to have done this during normal hours. It must have been created after dark when the giver should have been sleeping. Not only was the gift perfect for me and a total surprise, that was a sacrifice.

Once, during a time in my life when I needed it, someone spent hours and days with me, asking questions and listening. That too was a sacrifice. I’ve had people spend money or time or energy to help me with projects or problems. These too are sacrifices.

Giving up something to free me so I can give to others is how Jesus defines love. It is putting their needs, sometimes even their wants, ahead of my own. It is getting up in the night to comfort a child who had a nightmare, but it is also reaching out to a panhandler who is far less loveable, but just as needy.

The kind of love that the Bible asks of those who are Christian is not possible without the input of the Lord Jesus Christ who lives in us. Without Him, I can love when it suits me, when it is easy, or even when situations call for it. Yet I cannot do this for my enemies, those who are offensive or offend me, or the people who simply are unlovable or do not, in my opinion, deserve it.

Jesus never let any of those things stop Him. In His perspective of what is lovable, everyone falls short. Our sin makes us ugly and unclean, yet, “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

To live is Christ by this definition means that I must rely on Him totally, and remember that I have a long way to go before His image is perfectly formed in me.

Precisely!

Yesterday someone called, introducing himself as a “voice from the past.” Until he said his name, I had no idea who he was, and for a while during the conversation, had him confused with someone else.

After I got off the phone, I realized what I’d done (didn’t affect our conversation, thank God), and found myself thinking about my mother and her confusion and memory loss. She often forgot the name of things. Once she looked out the window at a field of hay bales and because she could not recall the proper term, she called it a “wonderful field of cattle.”

For me, forgetting who is who is alarming, but because I am a word person and love precise words, I would be extremely distressed should that kind of memory loss happen to me. How terrible to use dreaded words like thingamabob and doohickey instead of the correct terms!

Greek words are more precise than English words. I’m not a Greek scholar and know only a few words, but because I love precision and detail, I have and use a few wonderful resources that help me understand parts of the New Testament that otherwise confuse my thoughts.

On occasion, I do not trust the English translation. The translators may have different word connotations than I do, or they are not as concerned about precise meanings as I am. This happened when I read this verse:

Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith . . .  (1 Timothy 1:5)

Paul writes instructions to Timothy who is a young pastor. A quick read of this verse apart from its context and I might assume that he is talking about the commandments from the Old Testament, even the Ten Commandments that most people understand. But he isn’t. The first part of this verse means the aim or goal of his previous instruction. He is not talking about ten commandments or Old Testament law, but about the doctrines of Christianity.

The purpose of the older laws, as explained in the New Testament, is to show us our sinfulness and inability to keep them. As Paul says, the Law is a tutor that brings us to Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by faith (Galatians 3:24).

Yesterday’s post described how loving others fulfils the other laws from the Old Testament, but this verse from 1 Timothy explains how a person is able to love others. Paul says love comes from the heart through heeding the New Testament instructions regarding a changed life. Only a person with a pure heart, good conscience, and sincere faith can love the way the Bible tells us to love.

That sincere faith is placed in Jesus Christ alone, for only He can save me from sin. Law-keeping cannot do it because I cannot keep the law. Any efforts to do so not only reveal my inadequacies and sin, but my pride. Jesus forgave my sin and lives in my heart. He is my justification. He does in me what I cannot do myself. To say or think otherwise is sheer vanity. Truly believing He is my Savior means my faith is sincere, without hypocrisy or pretense.

Because of Jesus, I can have a clear conscience too. Sin is forgiven, all sin for all time. If I sin, or more likely when I sin today, it has already been forgiven. All sin can do now is interfere with my day-to-day walk with Him. To keep that uninterrupted and intimate, New Testament instruction says:

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

By doing this, my conscience can be kept clear. I don’t need to beat myself up every time I do something wrong. Only a proud person does that because in them is the idea that they should not make mistakes. Humility knows better, and the New Testament says so; I am a sinner.

When faith is sincere and my conscience is clear, then my heart is not muddied up with things like excuses, pretense, guilt, selfish motives, and whatever else would keep that genuine love of Christ bottled up inside instead of flowing out to others.

Jesus is in me. He will make Himself known. I just have to get out and stay out of His way.

Sorting socks

Yesterday, I was sorting and folding socks when a prayer came. “Lord, I’m doing this for You. It has always been for You.”

I smiled, remembering back more than thirty-five years ago. One day, I was feeling sorry for myself. The children were small, the farm house was large, and there was a lot of work on my shoulders. My husband worked away during the week and was exhausted when he came home. I did my chores without much recognition or motivation. During that time, the Lord taught me something simple: “Do it for me.”

I’m just getting into a very busy week. Yesterday’s spontaneous prayer and this morning’s devotional are timely reminders of the motivation that makes even ordinary tasks meaningful. The verse says:

Walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. (Ephesians 5:2)

This verse is about ‘agape’ love, sacrificial actions that are for someone else’s well-being, particularly their eternal well-being, but it does extend to the little things, like folding socks.

However, behind the action is a motivation. On a human level, I could be motivated by my husband’s appreciation. Do other wives regularly hear, “Thank you for clean socks”? I do. Or I could do it for the satisfaction of a drawer filled with clean socks and another item checked off my to-do list. Or I could do it because I like to do laundry (not).

Those motivations are fine, but they come and go because those rewards come and go. Besides, they are all about me. Doing the socks and doing any other routine tasks for the Lord as an offering and a sacrifice (when I’d rather be doing other things) is permanent and lasting. He is always pleased with me and always smiles at the tiniest things.

My devotional reading defines love in action and gives Scripture to back up the definitions.  It says that love teaches the truth to others, and ministers to their needs, and sets an example by serving others and stimulating them to grow. Love covers other people’s faults and forgives. Love endures the problems and idiosyncrasies of others and sacrifices on their behalf. Love offers spiritual truth, help, and concern to those in need and is the heart of Christian living.

For me, agape love is all those things, but it is also like the love of Jesus who died for me. His motivation was doing what He did as “an offering and a sacrifice to God.” I am important to Him, but He did it to please and obey His Father.

With His help, I can love like He does. When I do, my focus and motivations are in Him and from Him. Because of that, He fills me with great joy and that Jesus kind of joy makes even folding socks a delightful thing.

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Affection for the hard-to-love?

I’ve heard Christians say, “I love that person, but I don’t like them.” They are talking about agape love, which is an act of the will, a love that seeks the best for another and often at a personal cost.

But this statement isn’t biblical. Christian love isn’t just about self-sacrifice (which could be done without emotion); it is also about affection. Many passages say something like the words in this one:

Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another. (Romans 12:10)

The word translated “brotherly love” in this verse is not agape but “philadelphia” which is the normal affection that any person can have for another person.

Actually, there are at least four Greek words for love and two of them are used in this verse. The highest form is agape, that self-sacrificial love involving a choice made to seek the best for another. This is the love that took Jesus to the cross, and the word used in verse 9, “Let love be without hypocrisy.” It is a special love that Christ gives me and expects from me.

The second word for love is philos. It has many forms including philadelphia which is in this verse. It means an “affectionate regard” for someone, and is often translated brotherly love.

A third word is philostorgos which means “family affection” and this one is also in this verse. It means to be “kindly affectionate” and refers to the family aspect of being a child of God. We love one another because we have the same Father and are spiritual brothers and sisters.

Another word, eros, is the root word for erotic. It is about that physical ardor and sexual emotion that many people think is the only kind of love. This word does not occur in the New Testament.

Even though the idea of being willing to sacrifice myself for someone I don’t really like is not a biblical idea, it happens. Some people are difficult to care about. Yet I’m seeing that God wants me to do more than choose agape; He wants me to feel affection.

Over the years, God has taught me some lessons about this. I’ve discovered that even the unlovable people I know have some characteristic or even a quirk that is endearing. For instance, one of my aunts was always hypercritical, but when she was finished raking someone (who was usually absent) over the coals, she would get this funny little grin out of the corner of her mouth. She almost looked embarrassed at what she was doing and this little smile seemed to soften her in some way.

This facial expression has become my endearing and enduring memory of her. I cannot remember the negatives, when I think of her, only that grin. Because of it I feel affection, even though she was not an easy person to care about.

I wonder if God does the same with me. I am a big pain at times, and even though I’m sure that His love for me is secure and eternal, I must stretch His affection.

However, Zephaniah 3:17 says, “The Lord your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.”

The more I know Him, the more I realize that when He look at me He does not get annoyed at my quirks. Instead, He rejoices over me with singing. That sounds like affection. He might be “focusing on that which is endearing” but He also looks at me and sees Jesus.

I’ve lots to learn, both about love and affection!

Love and forgiveness

The marks of a true disciple of Christ are love and the ability to forgive. These days, biblical love is confused by a multitude of definitions for love, but the idea of forgiveness is less muddy. It means to refuse to hold the sins of another person against them.

Forgiving is not totally forgetting (Can God totally forget what we do?) nor is it being free from the pain of the injury. Instead it is simply refusing to retaliate or be angry and vindictive. Christians forgive because we know the forgiveness of Christ. He forgave me for my sin against God, and showed me what it means to forgive others for something they might do against me. The Bible is clear, if a lack of forgiveness is characteristic of my life, then I would not be a Christian.

However, an unforgiving spirit is only one thing that can hinder my walk with Jesus. The following verses are short, but they say much about how I must live.

But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:7-8)

In my Greek lexicon, these two verses literally say, “The end of all things is near; therefore be serious and discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers. Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins.”

Serious or sober-minded is the opposite of being frivolous and unthinking. I can be carefree, but not shallow in the way I think. I’m to remember that Jesus might come at any time and act accordingly. This is about self-discipline. God gives great joy but not a mindless lifestyle that “can’t be bothered” with the serious topics.

According to the lexicon version, any lack of self-discipline (even in my thoughts) will hinder my prayers. Other Scripture verifies this. I cannot sin and at the same time expect to be praying “in the will of God” or expect Him to answer my prayers.

These thoughts connect to the next verse. If I am serious and watchful, I will also be concerned about my relationships with other Christians. I’m to love them. This is not a mushy sentiment or a love based on mutual agreement. Biblical love is fervent or constant love and given by the Holy Spirit. It is never an up and down emotional thing based on circumstances or on my current needs and wants list. Love like this is important to prayer because if I’m all over the map with emotions like annoyance and even hatred, my prayers are hindered.

Last night I had trouble praying. I was struggling with negative emotions about another Christian and an unwillingness to think through why this was happening. I just wanted to go to sleep. However, God would not let me. The One who gives us sleep and gives to us in our sleep would not let me rest until I disciplined my mind to think seriously about my issues. He knew the problem was with me and that I needed to face my attitude and confess what was sinful about it. Once I did, sleep came instantly.

Today, my concerns were more about the sin of the other person. Again, God speaks from His Word and tells me to love that person; He will deal with the sin.

However, this verse from 1 Peter 4 says that love will cover a multitude of sins. What does that mean? At first, it looks like a Christian’s love atones for another Christian’s sins. But the full proverb that Peter quotes says, “Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all sins” (Proverbs 10:12). He is not talking about atonement but relationships. If I am unforgiving and annoyed with someone, that attitude is fertile soil for sin, both in their life and mine. But if I love that person and forgive them, I am not stirring up sin (or more sin), but applying a weedkiller to its growth.

Forgiveness is ultimately a demonstration of love. When I truly forgive someone, I will not speak to others about what they have done, nor will I attack them or try to make them retract whatever was said, or manipulate them so they will make up for what they did. The love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ is not like that. He does not flay us with our sin or demand payback. Instead, He took the fall for us. He paid my penalty and flung my sin into the sea of His perfect forgiveness. Furthermore, His love is never based on what I do, but on who He is.

My love for others and forgiveness for their sin against me must also to be that way, unconditional and demonstrated as He demonstrated it — by sacrifice. When I do that, my prayers are heard and sin cannot mess up my relationships with others in the Body of Christ.

Producing fruit

The crab apple in our farm yard was overgrown and unproductive so we decided to prune it. We removed all dead branches. Then we removed those that rubbed on other branches or were otherwise in odd places. We also trimmed a few more of those inner branches so “a bird could fly through it” and then we waited.

The first year wasn’t hopeful, but the second spring brought a dazzling display of flowers. By fall, we had lots of crab apples. The tree was again producing fruit.

John 15 is one of my favorite passages. My verse for this year is from this chapter. Today, I am again reading it, and being reminded once again the purpose of fruitfulness. “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples” (John 15:8).

Like the crab apple, no one would know what kind of person I am if I didn’t bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit. This identifies me as a branch, a disciple of Christ. However, that is not the main reason He produces love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control through me. The Spirit does it so that the invisible God is seen and glorified.

When I am around a fruit-producing Christian, I sense the presence of the Lord. My heart is warmed, delighted and encouraged. The fruit of the Spirit is often elevated as grand traits that are part of the human ability to be good, but when properly described and biblically understood, there is no way I could be like this apart from the Holy Spirit.

For instance, the love here is not human affection or a do-good love. It is agape, that love that is unconditional and given apart from any deservedness or reward. Agape can love enemies and persevere long after it is appreciated.

Another for instance is self-control. This is not a bite the bullet kind of determination but the sinful and selfish self under the control of the Holy Spirit so that the person who is bearing fruit is almost unaware that they are doing it because they are not thinking about themselves at all.

The first part of John 15 says that those who bear fruit will be pruned so they will bear more. That means God will use the events of life and the power of His Word to lop off the selfishness that is in me. He cannot be glorified as He deserves if I have any desire to have some of that glory for myself.

This chapter says that this kind of fruit only happens when God’s people abide in Him and obey Him. I need to stay close to Jesus and focus on Him. I need to listen to Him and rely on Him for everything that I do and say. This is a spiritual discipline and a necessity, but He is faithful. When I abide, He produces that fruit that is so important.

John 15 also says that the fruit of an abiding Christian will last forever. It has eternal value and gives significance to my life, even though I am merely the bucket that carries it where God wants it used.

Most of all, and more important than all, the fruit produced by a branch that abides in the vine is fruit that shows others what God is like, and by doing that, it glorifies God.