THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT: LOVE

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. – Galatians 5:22-23

REFERENCE
Galatians 5:22-25

The word ‘love’ connotes many things to many people. However, the love described in our text is from the Greek word, ‘AGAPE.’ It is also known as the God-kind of love or unconditional and unfailing love. This love is love by decision, a matter of the heart more than of the head or mind. It loves the undeserving, it is deliberate and not emotional – it is beyond natural affection or loyalty to blood or family. It is sacrificial- putting others needs before yours.

I Corinthians 13:4-8 clearly outline the characteristics of this love to us; therefore, you can easily tell if your life is producing the fruit of this love or not. Additionally, in John 13:34-35, Jesus commanded His disciples to love one another in the same way He had loved them, so the world would know they were His disciples. This clearly shows that we can only manifest this fruit of the Spirit when we demonstrate ‘agape’ to others.

You may ask, ‘how?’ Well, by asking yourself daily, “What impact can I make in someone else’s life? “How can I add value to those I am connected to?” “Who can I inconvenience myself for?” Remember, God’s love is not always convenient, and for us to love like Him, we must inconvenience ourselves.

If loving is not stretching and inconveniencing you, then you haven’t reached the place of manifesting God’s love yet. The God-kind of love will cost you something. It will inconvenience, offend, stretch & challenge your flesh, and your ego may be bruised. However, if you are not there yet, you don’t have to condemn yourself; the fruit of love is already resident in you by the Holy Spirit’s presence in your life. You only need to cultivate it by yielding consciously to the Spirit’s promptings.

ADDITIONAL STUDY
Philippians 2:3-4, Romans 13:10, & I John 3:16-19

PRAYERPOINT
Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you to turn on the tap-flow of love and empower you to be a blessing.