Fruit of the Spirit; Love – Part 2

“By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23

God first defined love by giving us the greatest complement of all…the creator of the universe made men and women in His own image. Millennia later God again defined love by sending His son down to this earth as a man. Then after 33 years of teaching, preaching, healing and feeding the people he created, God added another definition of love by sending His son to the cross to bear our sins in death. We may acknowledge the wonder of these acts of love, but we have a difficult time understanding it. So in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, God defines in a very practical manner what love is. Love is patient and kind…Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. God also defines what love is not. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.

As we look at these verses, we should ask ourselves “do I most often practice what love is or do I practice what love is not?” God has given us life through His generosity. And through that gift He calls us to a life of love, one imitating His son by caring for His people. But since we are not all teachers or doctors or pastors or farmers, how do we imitate that perfect life? By being like Jesus himself, patient and kind, never giving up nor losing faith, always being hopeful and enduring every negative circumstance.

Prayer
Dear Lord, who showered us with Love even before we were born, please give us the ability to share that Love with others on a daily basis. Amen