Practising the Love of God

(Practising the Love of God – Titus 3:12-15)

Most of this section of scripture are greetings and farewells. But in among these final words to Titus is a gem we can all learn from. It has to do with practising the love of God.

There is a saying that says “practice makes perfect.” It is true of most everything we do because the more we do a thing, the better we get at it.

The fascinating thing about living in Christ is that our aim is perfection. We are told in Matthew 5:48 that, “You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Practice is the key to perfection and practising the love of God is a useful approach we can and should use.

What is The love of God?

An important question that arises as you look at these words is: What is the love of God?

If we look at the scriptures we see the love of God defined in the writings of Paul.

4 Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; 5 it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never ends (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)

Here is a description of some aspects of the love of God. What we see in all of these descriptions, is that these are things we can “do.”

Someone once said when speaking of the love of God that “love is a verb.” This is certainly true of the love of God.

Looking at the words in the scripture above, we can see that in all of these things, they are attributes or actions we can “do.” We can be patient, kind, not jealous, not boastful, and so on. By doing these things and living this way we show that the we love others and that the love of God is within us.

Why do we need to show the love of God?

I have already mentioned that we need to be perfect as God is perfect. We need to be transformed into His image to become perfect, and that means we must be perfected in love, as the scripture tells us.

16 So we know and believe the love God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17 In this is love perfected with us, that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and he who fears is not perfected in love. 19 We love, because he first loved us. 20 If any one says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from him, that he who loves God should love his brother also. (1 John 4:16-21)

We see a number of things in this scripture. Firstly, we see that “God is love” in verse 16 and that fear has no part in love. Those who fear are not yet perfected in love because there is no fear in God’s love.

John goes on to show that we also cannot love God if we do not love our brethren. It is evident elsewhere that we are to show the love of God to ALL mankind, including those who are our enemies. God does not discriminate with His love, but shows love to all mankind, both the good and the evil.

Yes, there is a day of judgement coming on the whole world. And yes, those who do not love God will be judged. But every person on earth is given many chances to show the love of God in how they live and to come to God. And God continues to pour out His blessings in the sun, rain, growth of crops and herds and so forth in the hope that people will feel for Him and turn to Christ.

Do we have to show the love of God?

The short answer is…Yes. It is essential that we grow in the love of God and that His love is manifested within us. Consider these words.

1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:1-3)

If we do not have love, then anything we may do as Christians or in the name of God is pointless. We will not be accepted by God unless we show the love of God.

This scripture here shows that without love we are just making noise. Even what we do is empty because it is not done from the perspective of God’s love. Our own actions are self-satisfying, seeking our own purposes rather than the will of God. And in the total scheme of things, they are pointless.

Jesus put it like this:

17 So, every sound tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears evil fruit. 18 A sound tree cannot bear evil fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will know them by their fruits. 21 “Not every one who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you evildoers.’ (Matthew 7:17-23)

Consider the things that these people were saying to the Lord on the Day of Judgement. They prophesied, cast out demons, and did many mighty works in the name of the Lord.

But they were rejected. Why? Because they did not do these things in love. They did it to appease their own appetites rather than seeking the will of God.

How is this made clear and how are these people different from the ones who will be accepted?

Look at what the people are saying. They are saying, “We did this,” or “We did that.” They thought that THEY were the ones in charge and that the works were done by them. And perhaps some of them were done by them.

But the truth is that building up the church is the work of God. It is His work and He leads and directs His people where He wants them to be and what work to do. The ability to prophesy and cast out demons comes through the power of God and in the working of the Holy Spirit. So to say “we” prophesied or cast out demons, or anything else, is to take the glory away from God and to suppose it belongs to man.

That is why they were rejected. They were proud and arrogant and did not have the love of God within them. It is clear that these people either did not know or forget the words of Jesus when He said,

If any one serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there shall my servant be also; if any one serves me, the Father will honour him. (John 12:26)

The Lord does not follow us. We follow Him and He leads His servants where He is doing a work, not the other way around.

How do we learn and do the the love of God?

Going back to the beginning of this piece, it is by practising the love of God. This is how we learn to live, act and walk in God’s love. And we must remember that anything we do in His name is really His work, not ours. So, give the glory to God who is the one who deserves it.

And this brings us back to the scripture under review today.

12 When I send Artemas or Tych’icus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicop’olis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. 13 Do your best to speed Zenas the lawyer and Apol’los on their way; see that they lack nothing. 14 And let our people learn to apply themselves to good deeds, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not to be unfruitful. 15 All who are with me send greetings to you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. (Titus 3:12-15)

While much of these words are farewells, verse 14 is notable because it speaks directly to practising the love of God.

When we do apply ourselves to good deeds and help those who are in need, we are practising the love of God.

And we don’t have to join foreign aid missions to do this. There are people all around us who have needs that we can help with. Friends, family, neighbours, and so on all have needs from time to time that we can help with.

You may not have substantial financial assets, but you can still provide help and do good to those in need. Offering a meal, advice, words of encouragement and support will help. You can pray for them or with them. You can help them take their mind off their troubles and find peace, even if it is only for a while.

There are many ways to “…apply themselves to good deeds, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not to be unfruitful.” And by so doing you will be showing the love of God towards those in need.

You will find those who have needs often just by listening and watching. People who are down or being spiritually or emotionally battered show it in their faces and demeanours. If you can be observant and look for the signs, you may be able to provide the support they need, or help them to locate the necessary support. Most people when they are under fire cannot see clearly to know what to do, so you can help provide the direction.

And the first place to start always is in prayer. Seek the Lord for and with them if possible and ask for God’s direction and love to be poured out. Then follow the pathway of the Lord and show the love of God as He wants all of His children to do.

You might also like:

Love Your Enemies
Feeding The Multitude
The Good Samaritan
Do You Know How To Set Your Moral Gps
For God So Loved The World
Serving Jesus
A New Commandment
How To Love Jesus
Parables And The Love Of The Father
Expression Of True Love
A Merciful God
Access To Grace
Greatest Gift Of All
Living In The Family Of God
Love The Great Commandment
Brotherly Love
Walking In Love
Walking In Love With Others
Power Of Love
What Is Love
Love Never Ends
Attitude Of The Heart
Love Your Neighbour
Opportunities To Do Good
Growing In Love