Last Sunday I preached on the spiritual disciplines (Bible reading, prayer, fasting, exercising faithful stewardship, serving in the local church, evangelizing the lost, etc.). A few days later I saw on the bookshelf in our family room a book by Jerry Bridges that I read years ago, titled The Discipline of Grace: God's Role and our Role in the Pursuit of Holiness. I picked up the book and began reading it with a desire to refresh my own understanding of how grace fuels sanctification (the process of becoming less sinful and more like Jesus). As Bridges puts it,
Your worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God's grace. And your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God's grace.
That's a foundational principle -- not only to Bridges' book but to all of Christian living. The transforming effects of the gospel impacts every aspect of life, including our relationships. After all, Jesus did say that to love God supremely with our entire being and to love our neighbor as ourselves are the first and second commands (Matt. 22:37-39). The apostle Paul reinforced this concept when he wrote,
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Eph. 5:1-2)
The command to "walk in love" emphasizes the practical nature of this supreme virtue. In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul lists some of the "active ingredients" of love, saying,
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
To help him put "shoe leather" on the concept of love, Jerry Bridges paraphrased the above verses into action statements. I found these to be very helpful, especially in light of the gospel-centered motives that produce such action.
- I am patient with you because I love you and want to forgive you.
- I am kind to you because I love you and want to help you.
- I do not envy your possessions or your gifts because I love you and want you to have the best.
- I do not boast about my attainments because I love you and want to hear about yours.
- I am not proud because I love you and want to esteem you before myself.
- I am not rude because I love you and care about your feelings.
- I am not self-seeking because I love you and want to meet your needs.
- I am not easily angered by you because I love you and want to overlook your offenses.
- I do not keep a record of your wrongs because I love you, and "love covers a multitude of sins."
How are you doing in your day-to-day practice of love? Is there any room for self-righteousness? Indeed, we all fall short of God's standard. That's why we need his grace. (Refer again to Bridges' quote at the top of this article!) Let's ask the Lord to renew our hearts and to help us put on love's walking shoes!
