Our theme this year is “Fruit That Remains.” We work so hard and fill our days with so many good things, but is our primary focus on the temporary things of this world, or on that which will truly last? Let us intentionally produce that which will remain for all of eternity.

In his letter to the Galatian church, the Apostle Paul describes the fruit – otherwise known as the produce, work, or outflow – of the Spirit of God: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23a CSB) These nine qualities together make up the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

Paul goes on to say, “If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:25 CSB) Paul is effectively telling Christians that the Holy Spirit dwelling inside true followers of Jesus will produce these same qualities in their lives. The vine producing the same fruit in those who remain connected to Him (John 15:1-8).

The Fruit of Love

So, let’s take a closer look at the first fruit listed, the fruit of love. I believe the list starts with love and ends with self-control intentionally. These two qualities serve as bookends for the other seven. Love as the foundation and self-control, which we will discuss in greater detail in November, as the mark of maturity in the life of a follower of Jesus.

God is Love

We cannot discuss love without first discussing God, “because love is from God” (1 John 4:7b). Scripture tells us that God is love and all genuine love comes from and through Him (1 John 4:8b). Love isn’t just an attribute of God; it is the core of His very essence. It isn’t just how He feels or acts, it is the inseparable foundation of His being. His love is so big, so pure, and so complete that it will take all of eternity to merely glimpse beyond the surface. God is also so much more than this one attribute. He is also holy, just, good, righteous, and countless other attributes.

Unlike human love, God’s love is everlasting because He is everlasting (Isaiah 40:28). God spoke these beautiful words through the Prophet Isaiah, “Though the mountains move and the hills shake, my love will not be removed from you and my covenant of peace will not be shaken,” says your compassionate Lord” (Isaiah 54:10 CSB). God’s love is fruit that remains.

God’s love is also sacrificial. Romans 5:8 (CSB) tells us, “But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Jesus demonstrated His love for us by willingly becoming a servant, humbling Himself, and giving sacrificially for our good.

There is nothing like the genuine, sacrificial, everlasting love of God. Knowing this love helps us to recognize true love in the world around us. In 1 John 3:16 (ESV), the Apostle John tells us, “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.” We must know God and His love personally; only then will we be able to spot true love in the world around us…genuine, sacrificial, pure love.

God Loves Us

I’m sure that I will never really wrap my head around the fact that God loves me. I believe the Bible and I believe every word in the original languages are the actual words of God that He inspired humans to write. Yet, sometimes it is hard to believe some of the truths of God’s love, grace, and mercy apply to me. But, if I believe the Bible is truly His Word, then I must believe that His clear words of love apply to me.

The truth is that Jesus loved you and I enough to come down from heaven (John 6:38, Philippians 2:7), sacrifice His earthly body (Romans 5:8) and take our sin upon Himself though He had never sinned (2 Corinthians 5:21). His love for the Father compelled Him to total obedience, even to death on the cross (Philippians 2:8). Now that’s true love!

Love One Another

Like a chip off the old block, if God is love and if we are His children, then we are also to demonstrate His love to the world around us. The Apostle John said, “We love because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19 ESV). Jesus said, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:35 CSB)

Jesus said if we love Him we will obey His words (John 14:15, 23-24; 15:10). Jesus proclaimed, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. The one who doesn’t love me will not keep my words. The word that you hear is not mine but is from the Father who sent me.” (John 14:23-24 CSB).

First Corinthians 16:14 (ESV) says, “Let all that you do be done in love.” Just as love is the very core of who God is, we are also to be motivated by love in all that we do…genuine, pure, sacrificial love. Love should be the motivator that spurs us on to know and love God, to have compassion on one another, and to kindly treat one another. In 1 Corinthians 13, the famous passage on love, the Apostle Paul says that without love, our words and actions are just like a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal…in other words: offensive, not pleasant, not attractive, not enticing, and nothing at all like the love of God we are called to emulate.

Love Must Manifest

Love is not just a feeling, it is a decision. Love is not an emotion, it is an action, a verb. Love without action is dead, mere lip service, a delusion. Love must be demonstrated through actions, not just words.

Jesus and Paul both advised that we examine fruit to determine a person’s true nature (Matthew 7:16-20; Matthew 12:33; 1 Corinthians 5:12). If someone says they have love but their actions demonstrate a pattern that routinely indicates otherwise, it is not love because love must be sincere (Romans 12:9). When you love someone or something you don’t need to be reminded. You don’t forget, and while you may not always demonstrate it perfectly, there is clear evidence of love.

Therefore

Let us first know God and His love, then let us pour out the pure, genuine, sacrificial love of God to the people in our lives through actions consistent with and obedient to His word. As Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 13:13, the greatest of all that remains is love.

Closing Prayer:

Oh gracious God, I thank You for loving me and for demonstrating how pure, genuine, sacrificial love is supposed to look. Help me to love You and those around me with sacrificial love. A love demonstrated through words and actions – both the words I say and the words I don’t say, the actions I take and the actions I refrain from taking. Give me a greater capacity to love like You, and remind me daily of Your incredible love for me. Please hear my prayer in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Reflection Questions/Next Steps:

Read the following passages of Scripture and spend time reflecting on the truth of how much God loves you.

· John 3:16

· 1 John 4

· Romans 5:8

· Lamentations 3:22-23

· Isaiah 43:4

· Ephesians 2:4-5

Spend some time alone with God, just basking in His love.

Take actions today to love those in your life with greater intentionality.