Power, Love and a Sound Mind: The Progression
“. . . for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” 2 Timothy 1: 7.
I believe power is a prerequisite for walking in love. To me this makes sense, because walking in love is the most difficult thing in the world to do.
And love is required to be self-controlled (some versions use the term sound mind). According to Galatians 5: 22, 23, self-control is a characteristic of love.
Power to Love
You can’t walk in love, and be patient and kind, good and faithful, gentle and self-controlled (Galatians 5: 22, 23) without power.
This is even more true in times of stress and duress. To read this passage for context, click here.
But the question is, how do we get this power to walk in love?
I believe we get this power, or strength, or endurance as our faith is tested with trials. According to James 1: 4, steadfastness (or endurance or power) makes us “perfect and complete, lacking in nothing”.
And to be “perfect and complete, lacking in nothing“, is really to be perfected in love. I think this perfect or mature person whose character doesn’t lack anything is really just someone who walks in love all the time.
Someone whose patient and kind, good and faithful, gentle and self-controlled all the time. Whether they feel like it or not, whether they’re being treated well or not, and whether the right thing is happening to them or not.
What Does Power, Love and a Sound Mind have to do with Running?
A runner is perfect and complete as a runner when he can finish his course despite obstacles of every kind.
He can finish the race when it’s 95 and humid. He can complete it when he’s not feeling well. And he can even make it to the finish line when the terrain is challenging.
He is mature and complete as a runner when nothing keeps him from completing his course.
In the same way, we are mature and complete in character, and as humans, when nothing stops us from walking in love.
But as noted, this is the most difficult thing in the world to do. Love, therefore, requires power. And we obtain power as our faith endures tests. And tests are the result of trials.
That’s why James 1: 2-4 tells us to:
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness [power]. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing”.
To read a post related to Power, love and a Sound Mind: The Progression, see This Momentary Light Affliction: Price of Glory.
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