Spirit of Agape

Galatians 5:14 (NRSV)

¹⁴ For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Observations:

            Paul’s message to the Galatians has one purpose. He wants them to be prepared for the coming of the Lord. Paul follows this theme in each of his writings. Sometimes it is obviously stated others it is implied. He is not looking for them to be good in action; rather, they are to be good in spirit. This relates to the very motive of their actions. Those who are guided by the flesh will go after their own desires. They will be more concerned about their own benefit and see others as a tool by which they can achieve their goals.

            We all have lived by the flesh. It is what we are born with (as a result of the fall of Adam). Living by the flesh is natural, it blames others, it cheats, it steals, it lies, it desires instant gratification, it is defensive, and on goes the list. Paul calls the Galatian church to remember that they have been delivered from this form of living. They are called to live by the Spirit of God. The Spirit of God is the Spirit of Agape (Love). It is selfless; it seeks the good of others because they are the objects. This type of Love is not ruled by the desire to receive anything in return. Paul suggests that the whole law is fulfilled in loving our neighbor as our self.

            His thought appears to be that if we love our neighbors as if they are ourselves then we also love God because we are being obedient to His command. This is an important reminder that we do not love for our sake but for God’s sake. The Spirit does not lead us to love so we can be right with God; we love because it is right.

Application:

            Jesus is the great example of Love lived out. He tells us in 1 John that he did only what the Father did, spoke what the Father spoke, and judged only what the Father judged. Jesus was totally dependent on the Father. This dependence reveals to us that God’s primary activity to humanity is love. Jesus became love incarnate. Jesus is and was the visible Love of God.

            This is the nature of God and the nature of the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit leads us, we become the visible love of God to the world. It is important to notice that in Galatians 5, Paul does not tell us the Spirit will make us bear fruit. Paul tells us that if we are led by the Spirit. This means we must follow, we must seek, we must actively participate in salvation, which we have received. James tells us faith without works is dead. Our work is to live in the Spirit of God and be fully led by his great love for humanity.

Prayer:

            Father in heaven, You are Love. Love does not describe you, instead it gains its meaning from your very nature. The world doe not understand your love for it is not the fleshly love that we know. You are pure, longing to pour your love out on all humanity. In fact, you have done so in your only son Jesus the Christ. Forgive me for my selfishness; forgive me for not loving as you have loved. I ask that you would search my heart and illuminate the strongholds of self that I may surrender them to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. May I walk in the paths of your righteousness all the days of my life. May my neighbor know that you are love as I live according to your will. - Amen