This might automatically bother some of you because of the connotations of those ideas in most circles. First things first, let’s stroll down
Word Study Way & find out what these terms mean in context, and reflect on whether they actually deserve their bad reputation, or if we need to be transformed still more by the renewing of our minds so that we can see them for the positive things they actually are. Then, we will examine whether meekness or gentleness can rightly be seen as aspects of Love that we are called to grow in as maturing children of God.
Alright, so what is it to be meek or gentle, here? Why does Paul include this in the fruit of the Spirit? The Greek term is Prauntes, which speaks to balancing strength while not overwhelming others through the way you relate to them… this is related to Fathers not being overbearing or exasperating toward your kids when disciplining them (Ephesians 5).
This flies in the face of human “might makes right” thought processes, and echoes the relational ethic of Jesus, who taught that the meek will inherit the earth.
So then, what is it to be meek? It is using strength with restraint, rather than simply exerting dominance or personal rights through Force. This is upside down From how most people operate and could be seen as weakness or a recipe for being taken advantage of, thus the bad connotation that this word has. True meekness & gentleness are hallmarks of beloved children of God who know that they have a good Father who will take care of them, no matter what. Is that really such a negative thing?
OK, so how does this restrained strength relate to love? Love does not bash others over the head with its strength… it applies it judiciously, and never with intent to harm the object of love. love is meek, not weak. Love can a will throw down with any enemy who threatens the beloved. Love’s strength, when applied toward the beloved, Must be tempered with patience & kindness.
Holy Spirit,
come teach us how to be meek, not weak.
Show us how vengeance belongs to you when someone hurts one of your kids. Help us to let go of our desire for revenge.
Teach us gentleness today as we press into you. In Jesus’ name

Amen.

Is faith an aspect of love?

Let’s start with a trip down definition street: Pistis, in the Greek, refers to a divine guarantee of something, or being supernaturally persuaded or convinced of the truth of something revealed by God.

What has that do with the English word, “Faith”?

Well, here are the definitions put forth in the Webster’s Dictionary:

1a: allegiance to duty or a person : loyalty – lost faith in the company’s president

b(1): fidelity to one’s promises

2a(1): belief and trust in and loyalty to God

(2): belief in the traditional doctrines of a religion

b(1): firm belief in something for which there is no proof: clinging to the faith that her missing son would one day return

(2): complete trust

3: something that is believed especially with strong conviction – especially: a system of religious beliefs the Protestant faith

on faith : without question – took everything he said on faith

faith

verb

believe, trust

I think what we are seeing here is another situation where the current understanding of the English equivalent doesn’t quite cover the whole of the Greek sense, like what we saw with patience a few weeks ago. I suppose that I can be forgiven for understanding this as being a comment on an expanded ability to be loyal to a person, concept, or on a far reach for third place, belief in God. I do like the archaic verbal form of the word, though, as I think that it conveys the Greek thought better than the nominal sense which we hear used so much more frequently, it is a trust in Divine revelation, and more importantly than that, even, in the character of God himself. It is active. It is the choice to obey, even when things just don’t make sense in the natural. Ooh, I could go on for DAYS on this one, but I’m gonna keep it short for the sake of time, and not turning a devotion into a sermon or a book. Ok, enough on definitions… let’s see if it fits to say that Faith is related to the love of God.

Is faith a part of agape love? I posit yes. Why? Agape is divinely revealed, through scripture, but most importantly, through personal experience and receiving rhema words from God (whether directly or through another of his kids). We have to be divinely persuaded that this is true, though, that there is a God who lives us each more than we could comprehend, and so much that no thing or person could separate us from it. That is BIG, isn’t it? Would you like to receive this faith? Operate in it? It is as simple as asking him to reveal Truth to you, through an encounter with Him. He will meet you, and He will give you the faith you need to believe what He tells and shows you. Faith is a gift, and is not simply a blind thing, as it is based on the character of God. If He is Good -and He is- then we can trust Him. It takes time to discern His voice from all of the others, but in a supportive, safe community, you can learn to hear very accurately. In fact, I would say that it will seem alien at first, but that is the path to maturity in the Lord and experiencing more agape to share with others, as well as growing in the rest of the Fruit. You will develop wisdom and discernment as you emphasize intimacy with the Lord in your life. I’ve digressed quite a bit here, but I think that this was important and also somehow supported my initial assertion that Love and Faith are strongly linked, even if not as clearly as some of the earlier fruit was.

So, having said that, how did this strike you? Did this different definition of Faith encourage you in a way that the notion of faithfulness, as taught traditionally, might not have? Faith as a fruit of the Spirit? Hmmm… Trust in God that grows like a fruit on a tree? Active trust as a gift, where it can grow in the love and fellowship which the Spirit provides? Trust which has a foundation in the character of God and His goodness? Hmmm…

In the name of Jesus, I call forth the fruit of faith to come into reality in our lives. Come and reveal your love to us today. Make us more readily able to obey you every day because we are flowing with the Holy Spirit. I break off the false belief that blinds us to your love, and hardens us to those around us. I plead Jesus’ blood over any and all who read this or watch the video. I release the truth to each and every one.

Amen.

What has goodness to do with Love? Well, let’s break down what goodness meant to Paul and his readers in Thessoloniki, Corinth, Galatia, and Rome.

For us, in English, Goodness has to do with uprightness, good moral character, and the like. This is a close echo of this fairly unique word form of Agathos in the Koine of the day. So well, that word study was short…

What does morality have to do with love? If love is kind, gentle, humble, patient, and prefers others over self, then that sounds pretty darn moral, doesn’t it? That sounds more than just “good”, it sounds excellent. This is why goodness, in the fruit of the Spirit, is an aspect, or outgrowth of love. When we love perfectly, others become our primary concern, so we don’t do things that might inconvenience or hurt others, like lie, cheat, steal, or kill intentionally, it doesn’t even give quarter to things like envy or strife, or even offense leading to anger, bitterness, or resentment.

This is not to say that perfect love is humanly achievable here on earth, but as we grow in the likeness of Jesus, those hurts which cause us to hurt others, whether through action or inaction, spoken (idle) words, or even stray thoughts, become healed and we transform into little Christs. And the idea of fruit is that it grows when cultivated, just as we are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, through the washing of water and the Word. This is the process of sanctification, becoming good as Christ is Good, perfect as our Heavenly Father is Perfect. Let me pose this question in closing… why would you say that morality or goodness, in this case, is not directly related to love?

Father,

Come and help me to be more receptive to the Holy Spirit’s shaping into the likeness of Christ. Help me to be a fertile place where goodness can grow in greater abundance. Bring your Holy Fire to cleanse and sanctify me even more today. That love would be my default rather than whatever flavor of hurt I may be experiencing on a given day. Help me to truly consider others above myself today, to cease to enforce what I would otherwise feel entitled to today, but instead give others their true due according to Heaven’s estimation. Give me your heart so that I can operate in goodness more today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.