Richard Skinner/Jefferson First Assembly of God
When you go to the grocery store to shop for fruit how do you determine which one to buy? Maybe you look at its color, its firmness, its smell? Depending on the fruit, we all have our own subjective way to determine the best. Last month, I shared that if Christians (branches) are to bear fruit, we must remain connected to the vine (Jesus). Sometimes we think of spiritual fruit as something God drops into our spiritual grocery carts. However, the fruit of the Spirit is the very nature and character of God, produced in our lives as we abide in him. So, what will the fruit of love look, taste, smell, and feel like? Thankfully we have an objective way to know true love. In the Bible the greatest love is Agape. Agape love is God’s selfless, sacrificial, and unconditional love. It is the ultimate model of what true love is. So, what does God’s love look like?
Love takes the initiative. “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). God took the initiative to love us, even while we were the perpetrators. We were the ones who were guilty and had caused the offense against God. Yet it was Jesus, God’s one and only Son who took our punishment upon himself. Why? Jesus didn’t love us because we were great. We are great because he loved us. He intentionally loved us when we weren’t loveable so that all who believe might be born again!
Love takes sacrifice! Dick Foth says, “Love is the accurate estimate and adequate supply of another person’s need.” God accurately estimated that mankind was lost. He adequate supplied for our salvation by Jesus’s death on the cross and resurrection from the grave. He values each one of us so highly that he willingly sacrificed himself. That is amazing love!
Love forgives! When we receive God’s love by faith in Jesus, God forgives us of all our sin. He takes all our sin upon himself and gives us his righteousness (2 Cor. 5:21). It was a great exchange. The cost for Jesus was his life. His return on that investment was many sons and daughters reconciled to God. For those of us who believe, we are called to allow the Holy Spirit to fill us with that same love towards others. As we stay connected to Jesus daily and walk with the Spirit, he will lead us to take the initiative to love others, to sacrifice for them and to forgive others like Jesus forgave us! All we must do is to obey his direction to share His love!