The Work of Shepherds (1)

Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. Romans 13.10

Sermon XI
Columbanus (ca 543-615)
“Love is no trouble; love is more pleasant, more healthful, more saving to the heart. For if the heart has not become enervated in its vices, love is its own health, besides being what is dear to God; yet nothing is dearer to God than love, especially spiritual love, since is it the sum of His law and of all His commands, according to that saying of the Apostle, But he who loves his neighbour has fulfilled the law.”

Paul reminds us that the outcome we seek from all our preaching, teaching, and disciple-making – all our shepherding – is love (1 Tim. 1.5). Love is the hallmark of discipleship (Jn. 13.35), the first of the Spirit’s fruit (Gal. 5.22), the greatest of Christian virtues (1 Cor. 13.13), and the fulfillment of all the Law and the prophets (Matt. 22.34-40). It’s not enough for the people we serve merely to know sound doctrine, or to have their personal needs met, or to feel comfortable and content about their participation in church. We must fit them for love, shepherding them by love and into love, so that they might live in and for love in all their ways. And this should be “no trouble,” since it’s what the Lord is seeking, what the Spirit works to bring forth, what all people desire, and what we find to be the most fulfilling and satisfying way to live in relationship with others. Love is no trouble; it’s impossible – unless the Spirit of God works in us, beyond anything we’ve ever dared to ask or think, making us willing and able to love as God does (Eph. 3.20; Phil. 2.13). Because to love is no trouble for Him, Who is love itself (1 Jn. 4.8).

As you prepare to preach or teach, how do you remind yourself, and what do you do, in order to seek love as the outcome of instruction?

Mission Partners Outreach
Loving God means living as witnesses for Christ. Loving our neighbors means bearing witness to Christ’s love and life. Living and loving this way requires training devoted to helping us grow into Jesus so that we live as His witnesses. Jesus trained and deployed His followers two-by-two, to learn and serve together in proclaiming His Kingdom. Are you following this pattern? Our Mission Partners Outreach provides the resources and framework for making witness-bearing disciples in your church. Want to learn how it works? I’m currently looking for two men to work with me through this six-month training effort, which includes preparing a plan to implement this free training in your own church. Watch this brief video, then contact me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.for more information.

The Fellowship of Ailbe is supported through the generous and faithful gifts of those who benefit from and believe in our work. Does the Lord want to use you in this way? Please look to Him in prayer over this question. You can contribute to The Fellowship of Ailbe by using the Contribute button at our website, or by sending your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, 19 Tyler Drive, Essex Junction, VT 05452. Thank you.

Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.All quotations are from G. S. M. Walker, ed., Sancti Columbani Opera(Dublin: Institute for Advanced Studies, 1957), pp. 61 ff.