And the Greatest of These is Love

Love, He said the greatest of these is love. In my reflection it does seem that without love it is hard to accomplish any of the fruit of the Spirit.

Love is crucial to carrying out the remainder of the fruit of the Spirit. Isn’t it easier to forgive someone when we love them? We find ourselves more patient with those we love, in particular our spouses, children and our elderly relatives. Take any other fruit of the Spirit and add love to it and see how it changes the expectations of your actions.

To me, love doubles joy and peace and when someone who loves me follows through on acts of kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control in seems more genuine when done in with a loving heart.

While it is hard work we should strive to nurture the fruit of the Spirit. Utilizing this gift helps us to grow and deepens our relationship with God. The starting foundation is love, genuine and generous. Love cannot be ignored, when it is apparent, it cannot be denied.

So, after loving God and loving ourselves, we love our neighbors. Not the ones that we like alone, but even the difficult ones that challenge us. Maybe they’ve never known love, maybe our turning of the cheek would be the first act of kindness, goodness or gentleness they have ever known.

How would that make you feel to make a different that like in someone’s life? Like offering food to a homeless man, you could be offering love to a neglected heart. You could even be bringing someone to God’s house.

I know that when I’ve felt down sometimes, love has come from the most unexpected of places. And on a daily basis the love the unconditionally flows from my family and friends is an incredible gift to me, strengthening me to carry on even when times are difficult.

How do you expect to be treated by those who “love” you? Do you think the love you share with others projects a Christian life and enhances the gift the Holy Spirit has given you?