From start to finish, the formation of fruit is a remarkable process.
Following God's design, a tree develops in a logical sequence. First,
a specific seed is planted in suitable soil and then it must die before
it can reach it's fullest potential. Slowly but surely, under proper conditions,
maturity comes to pass and eventually fruit is harvested in due season.
Purity and patience is required to produce the best growth and the best
fruit. In much the same way, the fruits of the Spirit are developed in
a Christian's life. By the way, do you see the character of the Holy Spirit
growing in you? Are you doing anything to promote the growth of godly
dispositions and habits within yourself?
Galatians 5:22-23 (KJV)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness,
goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
"But the fruit…" opens a portion of scripture that makes a Biblical contrast
between the works of the flesh and spiritual fruit. It is no coincidence
that the Lord places love at the beginning of His list of the fruits of
the Spirit. God's beginning is always love and it seems logical that this
fruit should appear before all the others… I hope love is at the top of
your list today!
1 John 4:7 (KJV)
Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that
loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
Here we are encouraged in scripture to love one another. Yes, God desires
to see us become "lovers"! Certainly not lovers of a worldly sort, but
a lover as God explains in His Word. The world uses love in the context
of close, cozy feelings, or strong passion. It is conditional at best,
having many expectations attached to it. People anxiously search for love
and that search manifests itself as the central theme within many secular
songs, romance novels, soap operas, movies etc. However, apart from the
Bible, the world will never comprehend love. Ladies, before we can ever
begin to sincerely love one another, we must realize that true love is
born of God. Love is part of the very being and nature of God. If we are
united to God through faith in Christ, we share His nature and the ability
to truly love as God loves. Love will not be a forced response, but rather
a natural response of the character of God within us. It is the very foundation
of all the other fruits of the Spirit. Even so, without a deep personal
relationship with the Lord, we cannot truly love as God intended...
1 John 4:8 (KJV)
He that loveth not knoweth not God: for God is love.
How do you show your love, dear lady? How did God demonstrate His?
1 John 4:9 (KJV)
In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent
his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
Did you notice those two words in this verse that answer my question?
They are, "God sent". That's what God's love does, ladies - it launches;
it goes FIRST, it is active, not passive. How about your love?? In what
direction do we find God's love is sent? That verse says, "into the world".
That means His love is purposely directed toward the lives of those who
are not worthy of love, those who are not capable of understanding God's
love, those who need it yet do not know it, those who may not return His
love or even appreciate it. Yes, those who are most unlovable need the
most love! Do you know anybody in your life right now that fits this description?
Though the world neither knows nor cares about God, He still expresses
His love REGARDLESS of the condition of the targeted recipient! That's
difficult for us to comprehend, isn't it? For what purpose does God give
love so liberally? The answer, also found in the verse above is, "that
we might live". God's holy nature produces an abundant supply of love
that gives with pure motive for the good of the other - sacrificially,
and not for any other reason! The greatest expression of God's love is
in the death of His Son... How are you expressing your love to others?
Is it for their benefit - or yours?? Oh, how we need to love like God,
unselfishly and freely, beginning in our own homes!
John 15:12 (KJV)
This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
Now that we understand God IS love, I want you to realize that this does
not also mean that love IS God. Just because two people "love each other"
does not mean that their love is godly... It has been accurately said
that, "love does not define God, God defines love." God's love is a holy
love - without sin, and His holiness is expressed in love. All that the
world would consider to be love today is not necessarily holy! Much of
it has sin woven within it. Remember ladies; God's love always sheds light,
not darkness.
Tomorrow we will continue our look at love as we further pursue a study
of the fruits of the Spirit. But today, why not take a moment to prayerfully
search your hearts and see if those fruits are adequately manifested in
your life, beginning where God began - with love. If we know Christ as
Savior, love must be the foundation of our Christian life.
Let's close with this thought from Moody on love:
"There are nine different qualities: Peace, gentleness, long-suffering,
hope, patience, charity, etc. But you can sum them all into one, and you
have - love. I saw something in writing the other day, bearing upon this
subject, which I just took a copy of: "The fruit of the Spirit is in just
one word - love. Joy is love exalted; peace is love in repose; long-suffering
is love-enduring; gentleness is love in society; goodness is love in action;
faith is love on the battlefield; meekness is love in school, and temperance
is love in training. And so you can say that the fruit is all expressed
by one word - love."
But the fruit... Is there any in your life?
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2000 Pamela A. Iannello
Revised 2003
