The Fruit of the Spirit: Love

Do you wonder how the Fruit of the Spirit can apply to your life? Do you want to learn the benefits of this ‘fruit?’ Then join us in this series of blogs as we explore the nine attributes of the Fruit of the Spirit. We begin our series below by discussing Love… the importance that God’s Word gives to this ‘fruit’ and how important it is for our lives!

The Fruit of the Spirit:

In Galatians 5:22-23 we find a list of nine attributes of the “Fruit of the Spirit” that develop when we live according to the Holy Spirit within us—living in alignment with God’s will and character. These are:

• Love
• Joy
• Peace
• Longsuffering
• Kindness
• Goodness
• Faithfulness
• Gentleness
• Self-control

“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

Yet, what do these mean for our lives, and what does the Word say about them?

The Fruit of the Spirit, Love:

Love is the first fruit of the Spirit mentioned and given the law of first mention—despite this not being the very first use of love within the Word itself—there is a special importance to it.

1 John 4:8 says that, “He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” Since God is love, it is only fitting that one of the characteristics, and indeed, the first mentioned when we walk in alignment with the Holy Spirit, would be love.

Love is a necessary fruit if we are to live in accordance with God’s laws and decrees. 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 gives many ways in which we could be seemingly perfect, walking with great faith, giving everything to the poor, speaking as men and angels, etc., yet, it also reminds us that without love, they are useless. This is because God Himself, is love, and if we walk without it, we are therefore contrary to God, to His Spirit within us. We are lacking what God created us to be, made in His image.

“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”—1 Corinthians 13:4-7

The love mentioned in 1 Corinthians 13 may be, in the flesh, beyond us. But when we walk in the Spirit, in the fruit of the Spirit as given by the Holy Spirit within us… such love becomes possible.

“For with God nothing will be impossible.”—Luke 1:37

The word, love, is found in the New King James version of the Word a little over 500 times. Jesus Himself walked in that love—in the love of the Father—all the days of His life on Earth… even as He was despised, misjudged, misused, falsely accused, and eventually hung upon a cross. Even when Jesus rose from the grave and still questioned by some, He never failed to walk in love.

From Genesis to Revelation, love is important. It is the Law as found in the Old Testament, and Jesus Himself confirmed its continued importance. Yes, the Blood of Jesus removed the curse of the Law, but the requirement to love, which fulfills ALL the laws—and is given us through His Holy Spirit—can never be erased. Because it is a part of God. It is who God is!

“Jesus said to him, ‘“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.’”—Matthew 22:37-40

Walk in Love:

So, we understand the importance of love in the Word, and as the first listed in the Fruit of the Spirit, yet, how do we apply it? How can we, mere flesh and blood beings, walk in love?

Well, let us look at Jesus. Yes, He was and is the Son of God—a part of the Three-in-One—however, He also gave up His existence in Heaven for a time to enter the fleshly envelope we know. He faced all the temptations and trials of man—knew hunger and hardship, pain and suffering—all the emotions, and yet, He walked in love. This was possible in part BECAUSE He is God, but more so, it was possible because of His relationship with the Father. He always listened to the still small voice, and through that intimacy, He was able to walk in love.

The more time we spend with God. The more we listen to the Holy Spirit, enjoy the comfort of our Father, and accept the precious gift of Jesus… the more we learn to love. By seeking God we not only find Him, we find His character. We find that through His love and love for us, that we can love Him more. And by loving God more, we accept more of His love, and when we accept more of His love… we discover that it becomes our nature to love. Because God created us in His image… we were born to love, created to love, and it was only through our fall that we forgot how.

If we are willing to seek God, to spend time with Him, read His Word, ask Him to guide us, and listen to the Holy Spirit within… we have the opportunity to grow into His nature. His character.

We may not walk in love at the level God desires now… but it CAN grow. God can tend the seeds of love within us if we let Him. He wants to have us seek Him, so that we can find Him. He wants to have us knock upon the doors of Heaven, so that they can be opened to us. He wants us to ask Him questions, so that He can answer them. He wants to see His children grow; and grow like Him. To grow in love, the first fruit of the Spirit and greatest commandment.

Therefore, let us walk in that love. Let us seek the Lord while He may be found, and be wrapped in His arms of love. Let us discover WHO God is—Love—and, like a child, imitate that love until our nature is like His.

Let us share and know God’s love.

The greatest…

Would you like to learn more about love? Then click HERE to discover how you can walk in love!

Would you like to give of the love God has given you? Then click HERE to discover how!

Would you like to partner with Curt Landry Ministries to bring love to those who need it most? Then click HERE to become a Covenant Partner!

Would you like to discover your Godly strengths? Then click HERE to find what God has put within you!

“Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’”—Matthew 25:37-40