Cultivating Spiritual FruitSample

Love

"But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners." Romans 5:8

Love comes naturally to us but only in a superficial way. Growing up we learn love by taking what’s ours and keeping it for ourselves. It takes a lifetime of committed and intentional, deep work to love like God loves. He loves greatly in an uncompromising, unconditional, and immeasurable way.

God’s love is the only constant we know. It’s patient and kind. It rejoices over truth. It always protects, trusts, hopes, and endures. God’s love also helps us resist doing harmful things like envying, boasting, elevating ourselves over another, seeking attention, holding grudges, getting angry easily, and delighting in evil.

Our outline for love is found in 1 Corinthians 13, known as the “The Love Chapter.” It’s the most read scripture in wedding ceremonies and reminds us that love never fails. But there is an action to apply in this delightful chapter of love. We must practice positive behaviors and resist the negative behaviors that can all too often invade relationships. Love happens when we make it happen.

God's love took action, too. God proved his love by sending Jesus to earth in the form of a common man to live among us and show us the way to love others. He was born with a single-minded mission to save us from our sins. He did this out of an immense love for all people. His love is the only kind of love that never fails. As He broke through our sin, He gave us an “ermine” robe of righteousness. Ermine refers to a rank, position, or status of a king, peer, or judge. By the righteousness of Jesus, through His own shed blood, we are kings and queens and positioned to a place of high importance to God.

Let the love of God fully embrace and envelope you. It’s not based on fickle feelings. He could’ve shouted His love from Heaven but instead He sent unfailing Love. Let’s be people of God who are known for how we love and exhibit the wonderful fruit of love, just like Jesus.

Are you willing to learn how to love well? Act on the love you’ve been given.