God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him-1 John 4:16
This is the first and foremost fruit. It also is the most important fruit you can bear. Love is the defining characteristic of God Himself. Love is not a feeling or an emotion, it's a conscious choice or decision you make that seeks the best for the person you love. This does not change even if the person hurts you, disrespects you, does not care for you and will never give anything back.
The love described here is not human love that is conditional, which demands something in return and is temporary.
It is easy to love those who love you and do good to you. It is easy to love your friends and family. It is easy to love attractive people or rich people, who are able to give you something back. This is human love, which is soulish and temporary.
This is how the Apostle Paul describes love to the churches at Corinth.
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.- 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
This love is "agape" or God's love and it is unconditional. Try replacing the word "love" with "Jesus" in the above verse, it will still make perfect sense. The goal is one day you too should be able to put your name instead of the word love and it will ring true. That is the power of the Fruits of the Holy Spirit developing in your life.
God's love is divine, it is the ability to love your enemies, it is the ability to love those who hate you and want to destroy you. God even loves thankless and unrepentant people. As this fruit manifests in your life, you too will be able to love sinners, oppressors and the most difficult people in spite of everything they say and do.
BIBLICAL INSPIRATION
The word love first appears in the Bible in the Book of Genesis. Abraham was asked to sacrifice the son he loved Isaac, as an offering to God. God asked Abraham to sacrifice the son he loves as a test of his trust and faithfulness. Abraham by this time knew and loved his God enough to carry out whatever was asked of Him. This is Abraham, a man who waited more than 90 years for a son. Abraham had everything in his life, he had more servants, livestock and riches than even kings, the one thing he longed for was a son. When he got a son he dearly loved, he was willing to offer this son back to God. God saw Abraham's heart and was greatly pleased, He stopped Abraham just before the sacrifice was made and provided a sacrifice himself.Just as Abraham was willing to offer to God the most precious person in his sight whom he dearly loved above all else, God reciprocated the gesture, nearly 2000 years later, almost at the same place, and gave us his only Son whom He loved above all else so that we may be saved. This is the kind of Love that God has for us, it is humanly impossible to imagine.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life- John 3:16
LIFE APPLICATION
*Love is not a feeling or an emotion, it's a conscious choice or decision you make that seeks the best for the person you love, even if it hurts you.
*Watch out for pride, apathy and selfishness which come against this fruit.This is the most important among all fruits, strive to grow and nourish in it.
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"Fruits of the Holy Spirit"
Spiritual"Fruits of the Spirit" is a biblical term that describe the visible attributes of a true Christian walk. It is visible physical manifestations of the work the Holy Spirit has done in your life. Its a sign of maturity as a believer.
