We’ve been learning that to be love driven or directed in life we need to get self out of the way. We can’t produce “agape” love by sheer effort. Only God through His Spirit provides it.
Paul makes this abundantly clear in Galatians 5. He points out that you don’t become a Christian by trying to act like one. Nor do you grow and become productive as a Christian by trying to act like a mature Christian. Salvation and growing come by faith, faith in the provision God promises.
Paul says in Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.” This cluster of fruit is a picture of a love driven or directed life.
Love is an unconditional commitment to do all you can for the welfare of the one loved.
Joy is celebrating what you have rather than grumbling over what you don’t have.
Peace is deliverance from conflict because you don’t need to win.
Patience is contentment because you don’t need all you want right now.
Kindness is sensitivity which disarms and dispels differences.
Goodness is working toward seeing God’s purposes fulfilled no matter what the circumstances or cost to self.
Faithfulness is foundational for building and maintaining healthy relationships.
Gentleness is strength harnessed and harmonized to compliment others.
Self control is the ability to make tough decisions and implement them with grace,
objectivity and selflessness.
Only the Holy Spirit produces this cluster of fruit. Trust Him to produce it in and through your life.
