Click here to return to Blog Post Intro
Fruit of the Spirit Bible Study on Love & Building Healthy Relationships
This Fruit of the Spirit Bible Study explores the mysterious and many-faceted nature of love from a biblical perspective. As 1 John 4:12 says, “No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete [literally, ‘comes to full expression’] in us.”
Let’s explore the different facets of love and how they impact our relationships:
Loving Jesus (Luke 7:36-50)
In his book Too Busy Not To Pray, Bill Hybels writes, “To people in the fast lane, determined to make it on their own, prayer is an embarrassing interruption… Where does the still, small voice of God fit into our hectic lives?”
One of the greatest dangers facing us today is our tendency to be so involved in various activities that we lose that “simple and pure devotion to Christ” spoken about by the apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 11:3 (“But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.”)
In John 17, we read Jesus’ final words prior to His death. The end of this magnificent prayer climaxes in Jesus praying that the love the Father has for Him might be in us. That is the foundation for Out of This World Leadership.
Loving God’s Family (John 13:1-17)
Recall the story of Jesus washing his disciples’ feet (see my September 10, 2014 post for more details on Jesus’ example of Servant Leadership). There are two reasons Jesus chooses to wash his disciples’ feet on one of his last nights with his disciples:
(1) He knows their hearts are proud (Mark 10:42-44; Luke 22:21-24); and
(2) Their feet are dirty and in need of cleaning.
The apostles would later have a fuller understanding of both the bathing metaphor and the enormity of what Jesus had done to them in washing their feet.
Today, consider specific opportunities you have to serve another person, such as the common courtesy of a thank-you note, a letter of appreciation, a phone call to affirm someone, inviting someone over to your home, taking time to seriously listen and value someone. Begin each day this week by praying, “Lord Jesus, today bring into my path someone whom I can serve.”
Loving Your Neighbor (Luke 10:25-37)
With the breakdown of the family, the increase of life-threatening illnesses, homelessness, and single-parent homes, we find ourselves surrounded by enormous needs. The temptation to retreat into ourselves and into noninvolvement is great. Jesus, in the famous parable of The Good Samaritan, speaks to our struggle and reminds us that love compels us to serve the less fortunate around us.
Love That Forgives (Matthew 18:21-35)
An unwillingness to forgive and deal with bitter roots has enormous consequences—spiritually, emotionally, and even physically. For this reason, Jesus strongly addresses this life-and-death issue for us in Matthew 18. He also included in the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:6-9) that we were to forgive others every day, knowing this would be a challenge for all disciples throughout history.
It is important to note that forgiveness is a process, not an event. The deeper the wound, the more time needed for healing. Grieving is an important element of forgiveness. Some people forgive too quickly, not allowing themselves to feel pain. This leads to superficial, cheap forgiveness. Grieving means letting go. It is a work of grace.
Loving with Your Words (James 3:1-12)
In many ways, the use of our words is a reflection of our maturity level. In a mature church congregation, people choose their words carefully, wait to speak when angry, are truthful even when it hurts, and speak sparingly.
It has been said that more people have been killed with the tongue than in all the wars in human history. In the workplace, classroom, home, and even churches, complaining and fault-finding are a way of life.
Make your prayer Psalm 15:2-4, “Lord, make me a person who speaks the truth from the heart, who has no slander on my tongue, who does no wrong to my neighbor, who slanders and despises no one, and who honors those who fear you.”
Then, use your tongue to set the tone and change the emotional & spiritual climate of your workplace and your home. Pray that God would be the “aroma of Christ” (2 Corinthians 2:15) through your words.
Love That Lasts (1 Corinthians 13:1-13)
While we tend to measure maturity by influence, ministry, impact, Bible knowledge, and other external factors, Paul measures maturity by our ability to love. The church in Corinth was marked by disunity, pride, quarreling, and arrogance. For Paul, love was and is the solution.
It is easy for believers to fall into the trap of being very busy for God in serving others and to lose their love. We begin in love and end up feeling burdened with duties. Some keys to maintaining perspective include:
- Consistent time before the Lord in prayer and in the Word
- Praying before making ministry commitments
- Having friends who will help us by holding us accountable
- Serving out of our giftings (our strengths) not our weaknesses
- Ensuring proper rest and balance in our lives to avoid burnout
One action you may want to consider taking this week is to write 5 thank-you notes to show appreciation and love you have for others.
May love serve as the foundation for your leadership, as you shoot for the stars!