“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22, 23.
I believe John 3:16 is the epitome of that love. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
Rom 5:8 “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
We cannot do justice to this subject in this short devotional, but we can still consider some other texts of scripture that reveal not only what Jesus taught regarding love, but His example of how he demonstrated that love.
Jesus was approached by one of the scribes who wanted to know which was the most important commandment of all. “Jesus answered him, ‘The first commandment is: ‘Hear, O Israel the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:29-31
In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus taught some principles of keeping the law of God that were so practical but so foreign to what the scribes and Pharisees taught. How about loving our enemies? “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.” Luke 6:27 Jesus demonstrated that kind of love when He said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” Luke 23:34
A few verses later in Luke 6 we read (verse35) “But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.”
“If you love Me, keep My commandments (John 14:15),” Jesus said. Expanding on that thought He continued, “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.” John 15:10
Jesus is our example in how to love and what will happen when we love.
My dear Father, I thank you for the example of Jesus’ life on this earth. May we keep your commandments and abide in your love today allowing us to love our enemies. If we don’t know how, please teach us. In Jesus’ precious and holy name, Amen.
