By Pastor Doug Cox

The fruit of the Spirit is ‘agape’. Agape is a Greek word translated love in Galatians 5:22. Paul in his contrast between the works of the flesh and life in the Spirit tells us “But the fruit of the Spirit is love…”. In our culture we use the word love to describe our feelings about everything. A person says I love my family, my dog, my truck, my wife and God.

In the Greek there are different words used to describe these feelings. One is ‘storge’ which is natural family love including the bond between parents and children. Another is ’mania’ which is obsessive love that can turn into jealousy and madness. Another is ‘philia’ which is affectionate brotherhood and loyal friendship between close friends. ‘Eros’ is passionate love and sexual desire. The fruit of ‘agape’ describes an unconditional, selfless, sacrificial love given to others.

‘Agape’ is not a love that we can manufacture on our own. It is a spiritual fruit. A fruit that springs forth from the Holy Spirit working in us and through us, not through striving and straining. It comes forth from the believer through choice. We must choose to yield our heart to the Holy Spirit’s influence so we can receive His strength and leadership to look at people and love them like God does.

Agape sets us apart from the world. It makes a distinction between God’s children and the children of the devil. The apostle John puts it this way. “In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.” (1 John 3:10-11 NKJV) Again, this love is not a feeling, it’s a choice to “… be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves”. (see Philippians 2:3)

John also tells us this message of love has been the message from the start. “For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.” (1 John 3:11) Jesus says, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” John 15:13 NKJV He also says we are to treat our enemies in the Spirit of love. “But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.” (Luke 6:35 NKJV)

Walking in love is our way to be an extension of God the Father and Jesus. You can probably quote John 3:16. It says “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” God’s plan to save a wicked world full of sinners was spawned out of His heart of love. The price for our salvation was His Son had to become flesh, live perfectly, then die for our sins. Now that’s hard. That’s way harder than letting it go when someone is rude to you.

Love is God’s gift to you and me. It is the greatest gift He can give. Let’s give it to others.

Prayer – Heavenly Father thank You for giving me the Helper, who enables me to share the fruit of love with others. Help me be a doer of 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NLT)  “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.”