Fruit of the Spirit: Love

Love is a universal spiritual gift, pulled in and through every other part of the fruit of the Spirit. It is a calling for every follower of Jesus, a way we bear the image of God, who is love (1 John 4:8).

As we learn in 1 Corinthians 13, love is and isn’t a lot of things. It is patient, is kind, isn’t jealous, doesn’t brag, isn’t arrogant, isn’t rude, doesn’t seek its own advantage, isn’t irritable, doesn’t keep record of complaints, isn’t happy with injustice, and is happy with truth. Love puts up with all things and trusts all things and hopes for all things and endures all things.

In all honesty I (Kathy) am not always capable of this. Just today in the hours I’ve spent writing, I have not been patient, and I’m cranky (you would’ve been annoyed at the state of my kitchen too). I also remembered that thing my husband, Peter, promised to do almost twenty years ago and never did. I am not up for putting up with, trusting, hoping for, and enduring much of anything today, let alone all things. Yet I am still a Christian, always invited—and sometimes compelled—to act with love.

Instead of reading 1 Corinthians 13 as a pretty way to talk to newlyweds about unfailing love, what if we consistently turned to those words to remind ourselves and our communities to be more loving with those we vehemently disagree with? What if, instead of starting off with judgment about our different opinions, we led with love, just as Jesus did?

Questions for Reflection

Think of a difficult relationship in your life right now. How could a recommitment to loving this person transform your reaction to them?