Introductory Considerations
1. As my children grow older, I notice a ceratin thing, sometimes to my dismay and especially to their dismay. The attitudes they have in life are not that different from mine- towards God, themselves, and others. The Dutch have saying - "he apple does not fall very far from the tree". So true - and continues throughout life.
2. Perhaps in our genes, perhaps it is learned. As Christians we are to be a new creation - have new genes that come from God - Holy Spirit in us. Also, we are to learn the character and behaviour of our heavenly father - through work of Hly Spirit and through spending time with God and learning from His word, we more and more reflect the character of God as we are called to do.
3. As we have said the fruit of the spirit is character of God being manifest in us.
4. Last week we discussed how God is love and how we need first of all to believe and experience His love in our lives. As we experience His love and learn about it thru word, then we are able to let the fruit of love become a reality in our lives.
5. We discussed how we are to love God in response - being genuine and authentic in our faith, our giving and our worship.
6. Today we consider how we are to show forth the fruit of love toward others. We cannot separate from our love toward God - goes hand in hand. (1John 4:20)
7. And this love is not just toward certain people (family, believers) but to all, even to enemies. (Rom 5:10) God loves enemies - we are called to do the same. (Mat 5:44)
Teaching
1. Today we look at passage from Lev 19:9-18, and we see that we are to love various people - neighbour, poor alien, blind, brother. We see that to love someone is not a matter of nice emotions or feelings toward someone but rather love is action - expressions of our faith. (Gal 5:6)
2. First part of chapter deals mostly with our relationship with God - how we express our love to Him by being holy and giving pure sacrifices, not having other gods.
3. The section we look at talks about our relationship with others and ends with the statement "Love your neighbour as yourself". God thru Moses gives us examples of how we are to love.
4. As we look at these expressions of love, I ask you to do a "love inventory" on yourself. On a scale of 1-10 were do you rate? How do you measure up? How much is fruit of love a part of who you are? There are 9 practical ways by which we show that we have fruit of love. If perfect 10 on each - you get 90 points.
5. 1st is our concern for the poor - vs.9,10. We see this in book of Amos. Boaz’s field - our concern is result of God’s concern for poor - see throughout bible.
a. Many of us struggle with this. "Its theirown fault they are poor, we’ve done OK - they should work harder".
b. Problem not of action but of attitude which stops us from caring for poor. How deal with? (Deut 22, 24:21) We first need to realize that we are no better. We are like people of Israel.
c. They were slaves in Egypt - they were poor until God rescued them. We were slaves to sin - including laziness etc - until God rescued us. Therefor cannot look at pride to what we have. All we have is by grace of God - even attitude of working hard comes from God.
d. If we see His grace in our lives, we then can be gracious to others - even those who seem alien to us ( and sometimes they do).
6. 2nd is our integrity in dealing with others. ( vs. 11). This is in business dealings and in our personal lives. Not to steal from another that which belongs to them.
a. Concern for many Christians - copyright - tapes of Xn music copied. So what? Aagainst law. Stealing from companies and artists. It matters - when do - we are being controlled by sinful nature.
7. 3rd (vs. 12) To falsely use God’s name. In Israel, they did not have legal documents, so one’s word or promises was verbal. Someone could deny what they said or give a false promise. To invoke God’s name (The Lord is my witness) would end the discussion. To use name falsely would be to defraud another.
a. Today we use God’s name "So help me God". Yet Jesus says we must simply let our yes be yes. We must keep our word - when we don’t its usually because we care more about self that the other.
b. Also - careful - we can often misuse God’s name to get what we want. - eg. we see need - but say "I feel God saying I should not help" or "The Lord told me". Who can argue?
8. 4th (vs. 13)(Deut 24:14-15). These were day labourers - to be paid each day.
a. Give to others what you owe them - do not hold back. Remember neighbour is not just person next door but anyone who you are in contact with. Samaritan was a neighbour to man who had been beaten and robbed.
b. Are there people we take advantage of? Get too much change back or see error in bill at restaurant- how react?
9. 5th (vs. 14) Not to ridicule or curse the deaf - those with disabilities. Easy to make fun of those who are impaired.
a. Not to put stumbling block before blind - something they can fall over, but FEAR LORD. Your respect for God cannot be separated from respect for blind. Mat 25(I was sick and you looked after me). The weak should have a special place in our hearts.
b. Concern - today - government cutbacks
10. 6th (vs. 15) Do we treat all people equally? If a person with influence wants something do we run to get it and if a nobody asks us, we say "get your own"? Do we do what we can to be part of in crowd but do not care for those on the fringes?
a. We may say we don’t - but so easy to show favouritism to friends or those of like minds.
b. Also means to refrain from judging before we hear both sides in a dispute - easy to side with friends and not hear other side.
11. 7th (vs. 16). Do we talk about other people ? Do we gossip about others?
a.Especially as youth - can spend much time on phone. Are we talking about God and His goodness or about others? Seen youth groups destroyed by gossip and slander.
b. What about adults -easy when hurt or wronged - tell others how bad someone is. Even as ministers or in consistory - is this NB or is it really gossip?
12. 8th (vs. 17) This one seems wrong - rebuke or criticism is not love is it? It can be sin, but not if done right way.
a. Easy to keep inside - hate person - but who am I to say anything? Problem - hate grows like bitter root. Better to say it and get in open. Be frank and honest. A friend warns brother - responsible.
b. Found out must times, people appreciate honesty, but we must do so not in hate but in love. Amazing when we talk to people how things can be resolved.
13. 9th (vs. 19) We are not to seek revenge. There is no such thing as getting even - our perceptions vary. It just shows we love ourselves alone and that we are at centre of our lives. Be forgiving as God has forgiven
us.
14. Well - how did you do? Out of perfect 90 - what is your score? I would probably give myself a 50.
15. Remember God’s love for you and His love for others - the needy, the alien his enemies. May we experience His love and share it.
