How Do We Show God's Kind of Love to Others?

 

by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta

We must first define love the way God does.

It is not the emotional, hugging, card-giving, “I want to be with you” feeling.

While we do show these actions and feelings to family members and friends, God’s kind of love goes deeper.

His kind of love is dying to self. Putting the needs of others before our own. Even people we don’t like. Or those who drive us crazy, cut in line, bless us with foul words, or just really don’t like us.

How do we die to self?

Kindness Can Change A Life

by Barbara Latta

Fruit of the Spirit series  – Kindness

Read the previous post here

Fruit of the Spirit - Kindness

King David had a covenant with his friend Jonathan. Even though Jonathan was dead, he still wanted to show kindness to the family of Jonathan because of love for his friend.

Then David said, “Is there yet anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” (2 Samuel 9:1 NASB).

The fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-23 are traits we are indwelt with when the Holy Spirit comes to live inside us. But God never changes. Even though David lived under the Old Covenant and was not filled with the Holy Spirit the way believers are today, God still exhibited Himself through David because David loved God and followed His commandments.

The kindness of the Holy Spirit shone through David to extend to Jonathan’s son, Mephibosheth. He found this now grown son of Jonathan and brought him to live in the king’s palace and eat the king’s food. All because of kindness.

God extends His kindness toward us…so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:7).

David’s favor toward Mephibosheth changed the life of Jonathan’s son. He was living in poverty and fear until the king showed him kindness. When God shows kindness to us, we are redeemed from the poverty and fear that sin brings, and we are brought into the King’s palace and we can sit at the King’s table.

Our Father shows great kindness to us by forgiving us and giving new life in Christ. When we allow Him to have control, that same kindness can be flowing out of us toward others.

The fruit of the Spirit can bring the world to the King’s table.

Feel free to join the conversation and share your thoughts.

Kindness can change a life (click to tweet)

The Gentleness of Christ

The Fruit of the Spirit series –Gentleness

by Barbara Latta

The fruit of the spirit

The harshness of parts of our world and society create the wrong image of gentleness. This trait from the Fruit of the Spirit may sometimes be overlooked because we attribute being gentle with weakness or letting someone run rough shod over us.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control Against such there is no law (Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV).

Here are some examples of how Jesus used gentleness when dealing with sinners:

• The rich young ruler – Jesus told him what to do to have eternal life. The way He demonstrated this fruit didn’t condemn the seeker, yet Jesus was able to expose the condition of the man’s heart. The youth made the decision to turn away and Jesus was saddened by his response (Matthew 19:16-23).
• The adulterous woman – Jesus was gentle toward her, yet he didn’t condone her sin. She was given the option to stop sinning and we assume she went away and did what Jesus said (John 8:1-11).
• The tax collector – Zacchaeus was not condemned for being a tax collector which was what the small man expected. Jesus invited Himself to the house of this sinner and because of His willingness to do so, Zacchaeus saw God looking back at him and he repented (Luke 19:1-10).
• Peter - When this impulsive follower denied Christ, all the Savior had to do was look at His disciple and realization impaled Peter with the knife of regret. Yet after the Lord’s resurrection, Jesus restored Peter and made sure His follower knew forgiveness had been extended.

Every instance in the Bible where Jesus met sinners, He changed their lives by showing them the gentleness of the Spirit of God. Sin was not overlooked; rather, sin was repented of because of gentleness. You have also given me the shield of your salvation; Your right hand has held me up, Your gentleness has made me great (Psalm 18:35 NKJV).

Jesus changed the lives of sinners through gentleness.

But the Pharisees were treated differently because their hearts were hardened toward God. They had already decided in their hearts to reject Jesus so gentleness wouldn’t have worked with them. They had made themselves god by adding their own set of rules to the Law of Moses. Jesus knew what was in their hearts and He knew they were not going to change, so judgment was meted out to them (Mark 3:1-6, Matthew 23:1-36).

He was not gentle when dealing with the money changers who were abusing the Temple with their greed (Matthew 21:12-13).

We are told to restore those who have fallen with gentleness (Galatians 6:1-2). Someone coming out of sin doesn’t need judgment, they need restoration. This doesn’t mean sin is swept under the rug. If they are truly repentant, they have probably already beat themselves up with guilt. They don’t need others in the church helping them do more.

Restoring them in gentleness means giving them the Word of God to show Christ’s forgiveness. Showing kindness toward them without reminding them of their sin, and discipling them back into fellowship to grow in the Word will keep them out of future sin.

While someday there will be judgment extended to those who have rejected Christ, right now God is dealing with sinners with gentleness and mercy.

What does gentleness mean to you? Share your thoughts.

The gentleness of Christ (click to tweet)

Finding Joy in the Journey and 10 Verses About Abiding in Joy

by Barbara Latta

The fruit of the Spirit – Joy

What is joy? Joy is not the same as happiness. Happiness depends upon emotions and circumstances. We are happy when we get what we want, when we are having fun and when we are being treated right.

Joy, however, is not an emotion, but a fruit of the Spirit. Joy is deep within and is put in us at the new birth along with all the other fruit mentioned in Galatians 5:22-23. We may not always feel joy but that doesn’t mean the fruit is not existing in us.

Joy is the deep abiding assurance that God lives within us. Joy is the knowledge that we are loved, and God will never leave us.

We don’t have to feel the joy for it to be present. But we must make the decision to use it.

When situations are not pleasant, joy can circumvent what we are feeling when we stand in faith on the promises of God and rejoice that He is our Savior.

Jesus went to the cross in obedience to His Father’s will to save us. He looked forward to the joy He would have when He sat down at the right hand of God instead of focusing on the misery He was about to endure. Focusing on the joy gave Him strength.

Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross despising the shame and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:2).

Here are 10 verses about abiding in joy:

1. Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13).
2. Therefore, you now have sorrow but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one an take from you (John 16:22).
3. For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17).
4. Rejoice always (1 Thessalonians 5:16).
5. Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I will say rejoice! (Philippians 4:4).
6. Rejoicing in hope patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer (Romans 12:12).
7. Whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory (1 Peter 1:8).
8. Your testimonies I have taken as a heritage forever, for they are the rejoicing of my heart (Psalm 119:111).
9. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength (Nehemiah 8:10B).
10. You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand (Psalm 16:11 NIV).

The joy of the Lord is our strength, too. When we choose to operate our lives in the joy of the

Lord, the negative emotions we can feel will be overcome.

The Lord didn’t tell us to rejoice always, if it wasn’t possible to do so. And He is not telling us to rejoice that we have trouble, but that we can rejoice during the trouble because we have a Savior who has overcome the world.

When we focus on the joy of the victory of God instead of negative circumstances, we will win.

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Joy is not an emotion but a fruit of the Spirit (click totweet)

The joy of the Lord is our strength (click to tweet)

How Do We Walk in Love in a World Filled with Hate?

by Barbara Latta

The Fruit of the Spirit – Love

How do we walk in love in a world filled with hate? Die to self. 

That’s one thing Lucifer didn’t do. He exalted himself bringing hate and evil into the world. Ever since Adam and Eve gave in to the temptation to exalt themselves in the same way, selfishness has dominated fallen mankind. And love cannot be shown when self is in the way.

How do we die to self?