Love is a Fruit of the Spirit
By Bruce Cannon
Mitchell County
“Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” (Luke 12:32)
February is known as the month for love, though every day should be a day for love. And, we should take every opportunity to express love both to God and to man. The Apostle John wrote that we love because He (the Lord) first loved us. (I John 4:19) He, the Lord, placed within the heart of man the desire to love and be loved.
There are so many Scriptures that speak about love. Luke 12:32 states that the Father takes great delight in giving gifts to His children. James wrote, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” (1:17) Every gift the Lord gives is a “good” gift. Why does God give so many gifts? He loves us!
Love is a fruit of the Spirit. It is a by-product of an intimate walk with the Lord! It is no coincidence that the Apostle Paul listed love as the first of the fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22,23. By doing so he was saying that if love is not being borne fully and powerfully by the believer, none of the other fruits will be either. We will not bear peace, joy, patience, or any of the other fruits if love is not first and foremost in our lives. And, our love must be directed toward the Lord first; not our children, spouses, or anyone else. The Lord taught us that in so many Scriptures. Let me share a few. In Matthew 22:37 He taught, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” In Deuteronomy 10:12 Moses taught, “…what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul.” Having the Lord first place in our lives and loving Him as best as we can anchors our walk in Him and enables us to bear the fruits listed above!
The Lord gives us so many tangible gifts, but it’s the many intangible ones that really bless us and enable us to bless others. He gives peace which passeth all understanding (Phil. 4:7). He gives joy unspeakable (1 Peter 1:8). He, as stated above, gives the ability to love and be loved. He gives abundant grace.
These are the gifts that we must share with others. They are also gifts that when given come back to us in an abundant manner. When we give love, it comes back to us and further increases our love and ability to love. When we demonstrate peace we can help others experience peace. When we show forth joy we can help others have joy which further increases our own.
Take the month of February and give these wonderful gifts to others. Give them what God has so freely given us. And as you are doing so, make sure you do not forget the ones closest to you. Make sure you give abundant love, peace, and joy to them as well. They will greatly love you back for doing so you’re your life will be so rich and rewarding!
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Reverend Bruce Cannon recently retired as the Senior Pastor of Bear Creek Baptist Church in Bakersville. Formerly he served as Director of Missions for the Bladen Baptist Association and he has served on the General Board of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina.
You can read more Good Christian News from Pastor Cannon HERE.
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