GOD GIVES YOU THE ABILITY TO LOVE

But the fruit of the Spirit is love...

Galatians 5:22

In 1 John 4:16, we read that God is love. His entire nature is wrapped up in love. Yet we must not picture a grandfatherly character who dispenses good feelings with lollipops. God is all-powerful, all-knowing, holy and just. Yet because God is perfect, all of his characteristics are perfect. God is completely holy and perfectly just while also being totally loving.

As human beings, we cannot be perfectly anything. The Bible promises, however, that the Holy Spirit will produce love in our lives because God himself has come to take up residence in us.

What will that look like? A funny thing about love is that it can’t stay put. It needs to be given and given and given. Because of God’s love within us, we have an unlimited source of love from which to draw. As the apostle John explains, “We love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). This is a love that thinks of others first, a love that cares, a love that sacrifices. This kind of love characterizes God’s people. 

GOD’S PROMISE TO ME

• My nature is to love.

• When my Spirit lives in you, you will live in my love.

• My Spirit produces the fruit of love in you.

MY PRAYER TO GOD

God, you are love. Nothing will happen to me that is not permitted within the scope of your love. I want to overflow with the constant refreshing fountain of your love so that it will spill out in my actions and words. Even in difficult circumstances with difficult people, help me find the path of love. Amen.