The Fruit of the Spirit is . . . Love

I'm embarrassed to tell you readers about a conversation I had around 30 years ago. I was a Bible major at Harding University and, like many others in my degree path, was preaching for a small congregation near Searcy, AR. The conversation I mentioned was between myself and another "preacher boy." I asked my fellow student what he was preaching on that coming Sunday and he replied, "love." I snickered and said something like, "You're joking, right?" No, he wasn't joking and said that he felt love was an important topic to speak on. I was under the assumption that the topics we needed to be preaching on were commitment, sacrifice, self-denial, and the like. Little did I realize, in my naivety, that Love trumps every other topic that can be presented! (Check out 1 Corinthians 13 for Paul's attitude on the superiority of love.)

The problem in preaching on the topic of love is that there is simply too many scriptures and way too much biblical information. I therefore decided this morning to restrict myself to the Greatest Commandments and the Great Love Chapter. Be conscious this week of how the Holy Spirit inside you prompts you to love others with the love of Jesus.

Living in Love

The sermon this morning is really quite simple. Everyone recognizes that we need to love and be loved. We can't do this on our own. Therefore, we need God to fill us with his unquenchable supply of love so that we CAN love one another. It's not hard to understand; putting it into practice is something else. However, give it a shot this week. Love someone who cannot repay you or return your love. Perhaps you could anonymously do good for someone in need. Don't think of it as your doing something for someone; instead, think of it as passing on what God has already given you in abundance.

The Attitude of Love

"If only we could live the words that we sing." This sentiment might have been on the Apostle's heart as he penned the words to a familiar hymn in Philippians 2:6ff. This afternoon as I reflect on the morning sermon I am thinking of a different sentiment, "It's easier to preach on Sunday than it is to live what I preach on Monday."

How do I live my life so that I Act in love rather than React in fear? Who are the people and what are the situations in my life that need a healthy dose of "love in action" rather than my animal instincts of "fight or flight"? As God reveals these things to me I pray that he will do so for you so that we may all "shine like stars in the sky."

By the way, isn't Bear a handsome dog? If you come to my house I'll show you how he can hold a treat on his paw until I tell him to eat it. Good boy!