The Fruit Of The Spirit- Love
“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!” Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT)
When we make the decision to follow Jesus, God the Holy Spirit comes into our lives and starts equipping us to fulfil that decision.
One of the ways that the Holy Spirit does that is to make our character to be more like that of Jesus. Paul describes these qualities as the “fruit of the Holy Spirit.” It is important to realise that although there are nine qualities (to match the nine gifts in 1 Corinthians 12), there is one fruit. These characteristics are connected together- you don’t get more love without self-control and patience for example. As we examine the fruit of the spirit we must always remember that there is overlap and connection, one fruit in nine parts.
The first quality is the one which over-arches all the others, that is love.
There are four words in Greek that describe love. The word used here is agape (pronounced ag-a-pay) which refers to the love which God has for us. This is unconditional love which loves people regardless of their response. This is selfless love which expects nothing in return. This is unfailing love which never gives up.
Agape love is the love that God demonstrated to us at the cross. God so loved (agape) the world that He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16). God’s love is poured out upon us, even when we reject it, but it is made complete when we receive it and start to return love to Him.
Paul describes agape love in 1 Corinthians 13:
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres Love never fails
In human terms, this kind of love is impossible for us to express to other people because we are sinful. The love that comes closest to this is the love of a parent for a child- this is sacrificial, self-giving, at times to the point of death.
The Holy Spirit makes it possible for all christians to become channels of God’s agape love to other people, christians and non-christians alike. As we enable the Holy Spirit to transform us, the hurts, self-centredness and other obstacles to love are melted away. Instead of focusing on our own needs and wants, we learn to focus on the needs and wants of other people.
Historically, it has been the heroic love of christians which has impressed pagan cultures. The care of christians for abandoned babies, for widows and for orphans was a big factor in the turning of the Roman Empire to Christ. In times of plague before modern medical technologies were available, christians often stayed to care for the sick after others had fled the city, putting their own lives at risk.
Love is the fruit of the Holy Spirit. We don’t have to force it or fake it or follow a template. The Holy Spirit makes it second nature to love others with the love of the Lord.