Nougat 26

Recently two friends sat down to eat from the bounty God provided. When the dessert was served, the ‘chef’ was asked about the ingredients. The Tester then tasted and identified most of the ingredients. Not one could be removed by itself; but the flavor contributed to the whole taste and texture of the dessert. The same can be said of the Fruit of the Spirit.

Consider today’s Holy Nougat

“For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!” Galatians 5:14, 22-23 NLT

So the first taste test is Love.

There are so many definitions of Love that it’s almost a cliche. Yet, with all the definitions of Love, many of us truly find it a challenge to love ourselves. I hasten to note that as Paul and company echoed Jesus, he (perhaps the team) added to Jesus’ thesis from Matthew 22.

For Jesus loving our neighbor is the Second Greatest Commandment;which is superseded Only by the love of God. Paul takes the same argument but says Love for God is only visible when we first Love ourselves and offer that same Love to our neighbors. Of course, this begs the question – Do we love ourselves?

Now that’s a serious, albeit rhetorical question, for it’s now not just about our rhetoric; but about our witness. What we live testifies what we believe. When Jesus gave the Second Greatest Commandment immediately on the heels of the First, He did not even give His detractors an opportunity to reply. For Jesus, this is a given. And He lived this.

Self-love isn’t Narcissistic. Rather it ensures that we have enough love to share. When Love of self is in deficit, we either look to others for affirmation, act out in negative ways or harbour unhealthy expectations from others. Of course, loving our neighbor is not always easy. At times, they may be unlovable. We need only think of certain types of behaviors (and the people who practice them) to know the truth of that. And that’s where God’s Spirit provides the top up. The special burst of God’s Lovingkindness (hesed), that sees the human beyond their deed.

For the Fruit of God’s Spirit to flourish, both self-love (including self care) and love of neighbor (including the unlovely) need to coexist. Through this divine union, others have the opportunity to experience God’s Love through our lives. That’s our main objective.

May God’s Love take us beyond our expectations today and always.

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May all we seek be found in Christ