Growing in love...

I have recently spent some time reading God's word and what it has to say about the fruit of the Spirit. 

If you are a born-again believer of Jesus Christ, the Spirit of God is dwelling inside you. That is a fact, believers are filled with the Spirit, but not all believers walk in step with the Spirit. God has given us freewill and we can choose to stray from His plans for our lives, but when we listen to the still, small voice within and are obedient, God's Spirit will lead us along pathways that we never dreamed of traveling. 

I have written before about the fact that, as believers, we are to stay connected to the vine (Jesus), but did you know that as long as you stay connected, God will produce fruit in your life?

Love is one of the fruit that is produced and God's word has so much to say about love that I'm not sure I can cover it all in one blog. 

The dictionary definition of love refers to "a strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties." There are many types of love, but the love that I'm looking at today is "agape" love. It's an unselfish love, a love that is concerned for the good of others. It's the kind of love that God has for the world and all the people of the world. It is a perfect love that doesn't depend on what someone does or doesn't do, because God took care of our redemption for us on the cross. 

In scripture I read that God's love is faithful and unfailing; His love endures forever. He keeps His covenant of of love with those who love Him. His love is abounding, it's far-reaching, He fills the earth with it and loves His creation. He also disciplines those He loves and remembers our love for Him. He loves us, as believers, in the same manner that He loved Christ Jesus. His love has great depth. 

So what should our fruit of love look like? Jesus told His disciples to love God and love others. These were the two greatest commandments. 

We should love wisdom, discipline, our friends, our enemies, God's law, His salvation and His righteousness. 

Love should compel us to build others up and worship God. When we walk in God's ways, we will find ourselves loving like God loves. That should give us a reason to rejoice, the far-reaching, eternal love of God gives us a desire to love heaven, our eternal home. 

I also discovered that nothing can quench love and it can keep us from the pit of destruction. The love that God has for us is capable of quieting us, making us patient and kind and urging us to do everything in love.

This is one of the fruit that I often struggle with. Let's face it, some people are just harder to love than others, and yet, if we can remember that God's Spirit is living in us, then we can become instruments of His love. He will love others using us as a means to reflect that deep, abounding, eternal love to all those we meet. It's not about us and what we think or "feel," but our lives are about our Creator and His faithful love to all those He created. 

Jesus said that people would know that we are Christians by the love that we show. It may not come easy for us to show that love, but we are commanded to do it. 

I often use my time while waiting in line at a department or grocery store, just looking around at people. I'm trying to look at them through the eyes of God's love. Each person, young or old, tall or short, rich or poor, is created by God and has the potential to become a brother or sister in Christ. Maybe no one has ever prayed for them or maybe they are resisting God's gift of salvation. I can't know what is in the hearts of people, but God knows and God's word tells me that He doesn't want anyone to perish. The blood of Christ was shed for all people to receive eternal life. Maybe God just wants me to look at folks through His eyes of love and pray for those who haven't accepted His gift. 

I heard someone put Christianity this way - we are like the moon. The moon itself isn't a source of light, it can only reflect the sun. We are to be a reflection of God's Son in a dark world. Keeping in step with God's Spirit within us, can make us shine and illuminate the dark places where we walk. Walk in love this week and shine!