The Fruit of the Spirit (Love)
(Galatians 5:22)
(Galatians 5:22)
Love is un-defeatable benevolence and incomparable good will that always seeks the highest good of the other person, no matter what he does.
You and I were born selfish. In fact, you don’t have to teach children the word “mine”. We have to learn how not to be selfish. We automatically seek our own good. Yet, the scriptures don’t say that God has love. It says that God is love, and so God is always seeking what is best for us.
“Everything about God is always seeking the highest good for us.” – Pastor Billy Johnson
Thus, we can determine that love is not a feeling, but rather a choice that we must make.
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
We often use necklaces with crosses, t-shirts, and even bumper stickers to proclaim our love for Christ. But the Bible says that it is by our love that the world will know.
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.
“Working”in this context is where we get our word energy, which is active, efficient, fervent, and powerful. So faith is active, efficient, operable, and powerful through love.
“If you want to undermine your faith, stop walking in love.” – Pastor Billy Johnson
Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.
“We think the antidote to fear is faith. But the text tells us the antidote to fear is love.” – Pastor Billy Johnson
Fear – alarm, fright, and cause for flight
Cast out – violently and intensely thrusts down and throws it off.
In other words, love takes fear and gives it a beat down. And where love is present, we don’t have to be afraid.
In 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a, if we replace love with our name, are we doing everything the Word says? Did we pass the test?
“Love was God’s tool of choice to save the world.” – Pastor Billy Johnson