Study of the Fruit of the Spirit 1: Tho I Have Not LOVE

Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is LOVE, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

Looking up definitions is essential to any study. We all have a grasp on what “Fruit” is: Fruit: “the sweet and fleshy product of a tree or other plant that contains seed and can be eaten as food:” and

Seeds: “a flowering plant's unit of reproduction, capable of developing into another such plant.”

I am not a big fruit eater, but I love the thought and the beauty of fruit. Years ago, when we had moved to Fort Lauderdale, FL, there was a restaurant we enjoyed patronizing because of the beautiful array of fruit. They had everything you could imagine. It was absolutely stunning in appearance. Let us look at each piece of fruit in order as we study. First: LOVE

The word LOVE is tossed around like a leaf on a windy day. One moment the leaf is there and the next, it is “Gone with the Wind”! We say, “Oh, I love you” until something does not go our way and “poof” love ends. Love is the first of the fruits we read about in Galatians 5. I personally believe the fruit is listed in exactly the order of importance or even possibly of how we should take notice.

Remember in I Corinthians 13 (The Love Chapter), it says, “But now abideth faith, hope and LOVE, the greatest being LOVE!” Considering the definition of FRUIT / Seed – LOVE should be filled with seeds that nourish us and true love then takes root to spread. The qualities, if we are truly filled with the love of God shine forth as true concern for others, eliminating being self-centered, overlooking faults of others, doing what is right, even despite others’ characters, their appearance, their status in society, etc. LOVE covers all things and needs to grow out of us, influencing others.

Are you filled with LOVE? This is the LOVE of God! “Greater LOVE hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13 Did He? Yes, through His precious son, Jesus. He laid down His life for each of us so we could be filled with the FRUIT of the Spirit – LOVE!! Would you be willing to lay down your life? Tough question, hard to answer! But, worth the time to consider the first FRUIT – LOVE!

Would you be willing to lay down your life? Tough question, hard to answer! But, worth the time to consider the first FRUIT!