Young People's Group

But You Have Carefully Followed (VII)

by Mitchell Tan
December 08, 2017

HAVING THE SAME SPIRIT OF LOVE

Can we have the same spirit of faith as Paul? The answer is a resounding “Yes!” We too can assimilate the apostle’s spirit of faith and love in life and in ministry. A person who had this was Timothy, his spiritual son. Paul commended his protégé on this.

“But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance”
2 Timothy 3:10

The characteristic of love is something that we can develop through the years. Paul’s practice of love was built on his doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith and longsuffering.

THE LORD’S LOVE EXPERIENCED BY PAUL

“And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.”
1 Timothy 1:14

The Lord Jesus had no reason to put Paul into the ministry. Despite all the horrible things that he had done against the Lord Jesus, He still gave him a second chance. His grace was super-abundant towards him. This grace of the Lord was expressed in faith and in love. He believed in Paul that he could amount to much for the Lord. He did this with a deep sense of love for him. He was deeply moved by the Lord’s love. The Lord Jesus came to earth to save sinners of whom Paul considered himself as chief (1 Timothy 1:15). The Lord Jesus is the greatest example of practicing love.

THE CULTIVATION OF THE SPIRIT OF LOVE

1. LOVE FOR THE LORD

Paul was exemplary in showing love for the Lord. He obeyed the commandment to love Him with all his heart, with all his soul, with all his mind and with all his strength (Mark 12:29-31). He prayed to the Lord on a regular basis. He would serve the Lord in a most definite way. He had such a deep heart of love for the Lord.

2. LOVE FOR EACH OTHER

A. LOVE FROM A PURE HEART THROUGH THE WORD

“Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart”
1 Timothy 1:5

Paul was able to find a tremendous sense of love through obeying and doing the commandments of God. It was the word of God that cleansed his heart. There came forth a purity of love for people. His love for people was sincere and real.

B. HAVING A SPIRIT OF POWER, LOVE AND A SOUND MIND

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound mind”
2 Timothy 1:7

Paul wrote of how it was a fact that the Lord had already given both Timothy and him a spirit of dynamic power, deep love and a sound mind in all things. Timothy did not need to have a spirit that was timid and cowardly. He was able to live triumphantly with such a spirit in life and ministry. Of course, this was the work of the Spirit of God in his life (Galatians 5:22). Young people, you too have been given a spirit of power, love and a sound mind. Let’s learn to apply this.

IMPACTED BY THE MANY EXAMPLES OF LOVE AT YOUTH CONFERENCE 2017

During the week at Youth Conference, we have seen many who displayed a great sense of love to the conferees.

a. The cooks cooked up a storm for every meal.

b. The pastors, student pastors and camp officers sought to lovingly minister to all.

c. There were also others like the AVA team and Photographers who did their part.

You have seen love in action at the Youth Conference this past week. We too can carefully follow Paul’s example of love. Let’s learn to cultivate this love for God and for others.

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