The Fruit of the Spirit 9 (Prioritizing Love)

In this week's article, I will further introduce 1 Corinthians 13 as we continue to look at the First Characteristic of the Fruit of the Spirit—Love. 


Love is the personality of God Himself. And He has revealed and expressed Himself—love through His Son Jesus Christ when He came to pay the ultimate price for our sins. Hence, having received His love through the life-giving Spirit, we also can enjoy and conduct our lives by it.

In 1 Corinthians chapter 13, The Apostle Paul calls out some of these spiritual gifts, especially the ones common among the Corinthian Christians. Paul wrote, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and angels, but have not loved, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.” These guys could speak different languages without learning them. And they are so proud of it. No wonder Paul dedicated an entire chapter to addressing the issue of speaking in a tongue in the correct order. That shows how treasurable the gift is in this church. 


However, Paul said, “You will just be a sounding cymbal With all of these beautiful gifts without love.” Cymbals are non-living objects. It means without love, you can be sounding with your gift, but there is no life in it. Therefore, it is Christ's love that gives life to our gifting. Without it, we will just be making noise without impacting lives. 


We have a lot of noise in the Christian faith because men are not motivated by the Savior's love. I hope you are not just making noise. I hope there is life in you when you manifest your gifting. Those can only be if you know, understand, and walk in the Savior's love! 


Secondly: 
Another gift that Paul used as an example is the gift of Prophecy. “Though I have gifts of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and have all faith so that I can move mountains, without love, then I am nothing.” 

The combination of the gift mentioned is so desirable. And as Believers, we must desire to walk and manifest in this gift because that is the life Jesus has given to us. However, all of these gifts without love make a man nothing. God's love gives meaning to our existence, not first what we manifest. 

I remember those times when I have not yet understand the love of the Savior; I always felt empty. Even though I walk in the supernatural gifting of God, and I was all over everywhere, yet at the end of the day, it will look like I am exhausted and empty. Then I understood that “I need to put the cart before the horse.” When you don't understand, appreciate and appropriate the Love of Christ, regardless of what you do, you will always feel empty. But when you comprehend His love, you will do much more for the Savior with Joy. 


Let me say; 
“Spiritual growth is a measure of how you are acquainted with the Love of Christ.” 

The reason we cast ourselves down when something happens to us is that we have not understood God's love. Many times, we back out in the face of challenges. We grumble and complain. All this only happens because we have not understood the savior’s love. God's love has to circumcise our thought so that we only see what Jesus has done in every situation and circumstance. That is what it means to walk in God's love. 

Romans 5:5 tells us that the Holy Spirit pours His love into our hearts. So, do you receive the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to mention to us that you are loved? 


Many believers' minds are so open to worldliness, culture, and tradition. They are constantly looking for someone to cuddle their emotions instead of lifting their eyes to the hills—cross and receiving the inspiration of the Holy Spirit about the savior's love. 

God declared about Jesus at the river of Jordan, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased (Matthew 3:17).” These are exact words the Holy Spirit wants to echo in your heart. But what is the position of your heart? Here is the key; Fix your heart on what Jesus has done!

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