All Or Nothing
Ephesians 5:22, 23
In Reconnaissance training in the United States Marine Corps there is a motto that was established because of being exemplified by a Recon Marine (actually by many, but came about by one), “All It Takes Is All You’ve Got”. Some Marines going into the Basic Recon Training have body strength and ability and do well in physical training both land and amphibious. Others have mental ability helping them do well in land navigation and patrol planning. But when the truly qualified Marine becomes a Recon Marine is when there is strength in all areas across the necessary training and they are pushed to the limit. Then when the time comes whether during training or the years after becoming a Recon Marine their example demonstrates exactly that in all areas of their life, “All it takes is all you’ve got.” Many a Recon Marine have saved the lives of others by a Marine giving beyond where others quit or fail. It is not by mental acumen or physical strength alone. It requires every part working together to accomplish the task at hand.
There is a curiosity about the way some people think of God, even those who believe in Him. For those who argue against God they simply point out all the people God had destroyed or commanded to be destroyed especially theoughtout the Old Testament. Their argument is, You say that God is a God of love, but all I read and see is that He is a vengeful God. Who in the world wants to be associated with such a God of spitefulness and destruction? Destroying women, children, babies? Whole nations? Their argument is typically expressed so forcefully that no one would dare defend such a God. And then they try to present themselves as open minded, but their attitude is demonstrated is what they have said is all the more they wish to hear on the subject, only what they alone have to say. In looking at only one part of what God does they miss so much more, they miss all of who God is. What is really necessary is it being vitally important that God be seen as having many areas of character and balance in much the same way a Recon Marine is required to have a strength of body, strength of mind, and a strength of character in many areas of their lives, they cannot have one without the other and still be a Recon Marine.
Over many years I have been challenged to take time to pray the character of God, praise Him for who He is. Praise Him for His holiness. Praise Him as Creator. Praise Him for being the all powerful God. Praise Him for His Righteousness. Praise Him for being just. Praise Him for His equity in judgment to all people. Praise Him for being the Judge of the whole earth. But in a Bible study with a small group of people in the last few years I have also seen the fruit of the spirit in a believer’s life can only come from those fruits existing already in God Himself. As I began to pray each of these fruits individually, “God is love”, “God is joy”, “God is peace”, “God is long-suffering”, “God is goodness”, “God is gentle”, “God is faithful “, “God is meekness”, “and “God is temperant”, yeah, as I prayed each of these along with “the God who sees”, “the God who hears”, “the God who provides”, and more I saw that sometimes I would end up thinking as each characteristic of God as a standalone thought. The person who clings dearly only to the truth that “God is love” may tend to think that is the only characteristic that describes God. After all in 1 John 4 it is stated twice, God is love But in thinking of God that way they miss the truth that “our God is a consuming fire”. They miss that God is Holy, Holy, Holy. They miss the fact that the fruit of the Spirit being grown in every believer to be seen of all men must have these fruits be seen as one fruit. The joy cannot exist without the long-suffering. God's faithfulness in revealing sin does not come without meekness. God’s love and peace must exist along with long-suffering and temperance. All must be present and included when trying to see and understand who and all God is.
No matter how many theologians, preachers, Bible scholars, often overlapping in them , no matter how many writers write of God, even those who are right in most of their manuscripts, there is always more God reveals of Himself in different ways for the specific needs in each person’s life. So when it comes down to consideration of God as much as any person can possibly know remember, please know, it is all or nothing. Don't spout off God is love, or God is holy, without including that He is faithful, He is just, He is the righteous Judge, He is peace. He cannot be separated one from another in who He is.
How should that affect me?
Every descriptive part makes up the fruit God wants others to exam, to see as our light, their cause for glorifying our Father in heaven (Matthew 5:19). It is our conversation, our citizenship, what our life says (Philippians 1:28), that God is changing our lives to bear the image of His Son (Romans 8:28, 29).
Addendum:
Beyond that which is to be common among believers God prepares, equips each believer for specific ministry, typically quite different from each other, but meant to part of an assembly of believers complimenting the gifts of others in specific places. (1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4). So true among His believers are the specific gifts God gives to each that vary quite differently. These gifts are not established in each believer equally. Therefore the ear cannot say to the eye I have no need of you, because you are not the same as me. The fruits indeed should be in each believer, but the gifts must be accepted as standing out as the quite different abilty God gave them.