06/17/2021
The fruits of the Spirit are many, and wonderful, but the first of these fruits that Paul mentions in his letter to the Galatians is love, and rightfully so. When we first believe, and receive the Spirit, love is the first of the Spirit’s fruits that we are filled with. After the love of God comes upon us then the rest are made possible, and the fruits of the Spirit begin to set us apart as Christians. Without love the others can’t exist in us. So have we been changed, and opened ourselves up to the love that is offered us through the Holy Spirit?
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”
Galatians 5:22-23 ESV
When we read that “against such things there is no law.” We are being told that there is no reason why we should withhold, or not exhibit, the Spirit’s gifts… we should exercise them always. Yet none of them is possible without Love because it is the foundation of every other gift we receive from God, and none of them are truly in us if we do not first accept the love of God.
“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.”
1 Corinthians 13:1-3 ESV
I have been to many parties where it was expected that a person bring a gift, but to some it wasn’t an act of love, but one of obligation instead. Birthday parties, wedding showers, baby showers, anniversaries, and retirement parties, are all examples of such occasions. So the gifts are received, and at the climax of the party they are opened with much fanfare. As each one is unwrapped it is easy to determine the love that not only went into selecting it, but the spirit in which it was given, and received. Aunt Bea always gives the same thing to everyone, but a friend has fretted over giving the perfect gift for the occasion. Aunt Bea talks with someone as her gift is being opened, but friends are excited, and watch the eyes of their gift is opened. Equally important is the love displayed as the recipient opens each of their gifts. If they are more concerned with documenting who gave what gift, rather than thanking them, or if they immediately throw the present on a pile of others and move on… there is no love there. Love makes all the difference, and it is the same with the gifts of the Spirit. Without love nothing is felt, and everything is meaningless.
“Let all that you do be done in love.”
1 Corinthians 16:14 ESV
We know the degree to which God loves us, after all, He gave His Son to suffer and die for us out of an abundance of love, but what about us? Do we love him, and accept His love with the same heart with which it was offered? If we don’t accept the love that the Spirit offers us then there is no truth in the other gifts, and those around us can tell our insincerity immediately. We can easily discern the truly faithful from those who are just going through the motions of religion with very little effort being exerted, and so can everyone else!
“And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”
Philippians 1:9-11 ESV
So let’s ask ourselves if we have actually accepted God’s gift of love into our hearts, and made it the focus of our lives… or are we just wearing it outwardly like a handsome coat for others to see?
“And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.”
Colossians 3:14-15 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for the love you show us each moment of every day. Thank you for the love that prompted you to send your Son Jesus Christ to suffer and die for us that we might be redeemed and raised up as he was on the day of resurrection. Thank you Lord for every gift of the Spirit that not only blesses us, but separates us from the world, and makes us easily identifiable as Christians. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who loves us so completely. Praised be your name for the gift of love you offer us freely through your Holy Spirit, and for all of the other gifts that rest upon it. You are merciful Lord, and we prostrate ourselves before you in worship as you perfect us in the image of Christ. Your grace flows over us, poured out on us from Jesus, the perfect vessel of love and grace. Wash us clean in His blood Father, and find in us the love you have commanded us to feel for you… heart, soul, mind, and strength. See in us the image of Jesus, and seat us at your table forevermore.
“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
Ephesians 3:14-21 ESV
Rich Forbes