to fully live out a lifestyle where compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and forgiveness are evident, there has to be something that is fueling that lifestyle. In the world none of these virtues are natural, but when we are in the family of God, it is a natural overflow of holiness.
Paul reminds the believers that there is something much higher than these virtues that actually make living them out possible: love. The word love means something different to every person in the world. For some it is expression of two hearts coming together. For others, it is seen through the eyes of a brotherly or sisterly love, through family ties or friendships. However, there is a love that goes much deeper. This love only makes sense if your heart has experienced it, because otherwise it would sound crazy. This love is a selfless love, a love that is not self-seeking, a love that is not boasting, but one that has no strings attached. It is the purest love possible, and this is the love that fuels our ability to live out these virtues that Paul is encouraging the believers to live out.
When we experience this love, our hearts leap for joy because it is the love that our hearts were created to experience. It is the love that allows our hearts to be connected to its Creator. It is the love that allows us to live out forgiveness, patience, gentleness, kindness, and humility. It is the love that allows your heart to find its home.
Over time and from within a variety of forums, both physical and digital, I have come to hear more and more people tout the “Love” aspect of God. One of the more recent times I happened to see a post of an old Junior High school friend who I grew up with as she posted on a popular social networking site. Her usage was akin to “Since God is love and since we are created in the image of God then why can’t we all just love?” She went on further to describe a group of people who she claimed were hypocritical and judgmental, and I knew she was mentioning her run-ins with Christianity (or perhaps false Christianity!). After further reading I found out that she was using one of the attributes of God (LOVE) as a defense for her chosen path of sexuality which, without formally applying a classification label was one that was not in line with either the Creationist viewpoint or the Evolutionary viewpoint of humanity or Anthropology.
God is Love! Indeed, but He is many other concurrent attributes none of which are removable, selective, mutable, or replaceable. Holiness, Truth, Power, Justice and Wisdom are but a few. Is there a danger in selective quantification of God and His attributes? How can one claim a singular aspect of God (Love) yet deny Him Justice, or Holiness or Truth?
We cannot. I cannot. The properties and full attributes of God are essential to doctrine and truth, and consequently a complete understanding of what it is to be a Christian in our daily walk. The only way we have this truth is because of God, who is the epitome of Truth, and the Word. Yet if our understanding of the attributes of God are incorrect then what happens next is sooner or later the whole structure must collapse.
Yet that is the beauty of all of the attributes of God. They all fit perfectly and although God requires justice, He is also merciful, and “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9 NASB) which states He doesn’t just give up on us and “If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.” (2 Timothy 2:13 NASB)
Joshua Miles
Tuscumbia, Alabama
God is Love