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 New Living Translation
We are used to defining love in terms of emotion, and the way another person or thing makes us feel. But in the Bible, love is action, a commitment to meet another’s need.
“Love is unselfishly choosing for another’s highest good.”
C. S. Lewis
That is what God does, when He loves us; He commits to bringing about our highest good. That can be hard to understand.
“God’s love is so extravagant and so inexplicable that he loved us before we were us.
He loved us before we existed.
He knew many of us would reject him, hate him, curse him, rebel against him.
Yet he chose to love us. God loves us because he is love.”
Judah Smith
And hard to accept.
“God’s unconditional love is a very difficult concept for people to accept because, in the world,
there’s always payment for everything we receive. It’s just how things work here. But God is not like people!”
Joyce Meyer
But it is true – all of it! And the most amazing proof of His love is this:
And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. Romans 5:5 NLT
I think that is exactly what the Fruit of the Spirit is: God pouring Himself into us to fill our emptiness. And not just to fill us up, but to fill us so much that we spill over onto all those around us.
I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. Philippians 1:9 NLT
A closed vessel cannot be filled. So if we are made to overflow, perhaps our role is to stay open to God.
And to be ready to let God’s abundant love pour out of us, well, abundantly.
“We are all pencils in the hand of a writing God, who is sending love letters to the world.”
Mother Teresa
