"We can choose to put on the new man and develop the fruit of His Spirit within us." Kathy Spampinato

The Bible gives lots of examples of how we are to treat one another. We are to encourage, exhort, be kind, tenderhearted, and supportive. These requests are easy to understand, but not so easy to fulfill. Yet, Jesus gave us a mandate and commission in John 13:34-35, ESV.

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Loving others is challenging because they are different, and confusing. People do not react as we expect them to, and they hurt our feelings. They aggravate us and irritate our disposition. They sometimes blatantly oppose us and tell lies about us. Some people are evil as they follow the patterns of the enemy. Their actions cause havoc and contribute to the sin in our society. How are we to learn to treat them well and to honor and respect them? Let’s take a look at the wisdom of scripture that speaks to this. 

1 John 4:7-8,11 “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another”

Okay. That is pretty clear. God’s character is love and we ought to reflect that love to others. If we do not have it within ourselves, God is the source and we can know Him and be born of Him. Our personal growth will cultivate love in our hearts because God is love.

Romans 12:14-16a “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another.”

Wow, that is a tall order. We do not easily relate to the challenges of those who have hurt us. We see their mean spirit. We condemn their actions and their motives. We resent their behavior, and we talk about it. However, the Lord is asking us to have a different spirit and to choose understanding and tolerance.

Galatians 5:1-2 “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

We are encouraged to see beyond the obvious, and to be gentle with the person who is weak and has failed. Because of our human nature, we could be the one needing grace the next time. We must be careful to walk in the truth and in love. As members of the body of Christ, we support and encourage each other. We are all on the path of growth in God.

Ephesians 4:22-24 "to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.”

Ephesians 4:29-30,32 “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

How are we to develop all this good character? We are human, and it seems like an impossible task for us. We are self-focused and weak. We can actually grieve the Holy Spirit by our behavior and attitude. The goal of love sounds wonderful, but are we up for it? Can we walk in grace and exhibit the fruit of our relationship with Christ?

Colossians 3:12-15 “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.”

In the end, we are left where we began. Love is of God, and if we know God, we will be able to reflect His love. It does not originate in our hearts, but in His. He is the source. We can choose to put on the new man and develop the fruit of His Spirit within us. Our new nature will overcome the instincts to self-protect and lash out at others. As we take one step after another, have faith that we too can grow and change. We can walk in grace and put on the character of Christ. We are His!