“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophesy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames but have not love, I gain nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 NIV

It is revealed to us through His Word that we are the body of Christ and we each are given a gift. Paul equates the gift of prophecy with encouragement through preaching and enlightenment and understanding. Whether my gift is edifying or helping, if I do not have the fruit of the spirit that is love, then I have nothing.

In the Book of Galatians, Paul clearly and concisely explains the basics of what the gospel really is. It is a short book with only six chapters but is packed with advice, warning the Christians of Galatia against mixing worldly legalism with the simple truths of what it meant to be saved by faith. Paul taught that we should live by the Spirit, not gratifying the desires of the sinful nature.

“The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.” Galatians 5:9-21a NIV

The Apostle Paul goes on to name the nine Fruits of the Spirit: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Galatians 5:22-23a NIV

In an earlier commentary I wrote about love and obedience going hand in hand. Delving further into the Bible we discern that faith (interchangeable with love) and obedience go hand in hand as well. The Fruit of the Spirit is something only the Holy Spirit can produce within us. As a believer, this is something we receive as a gift when we accept Christ as our Savior.

It sounds so simple… is it easy? No! But if we truly live by the Spirit and stay in step with the Spirit and lift each other up and restore each other when we stumble, we will be successful. We must humble our hearts to love the unlovely, just as Jesus did.

Jerry Bridges wrote in The Practice of Godliness, “The godly person has found that what the greedy or envious or discontented person always searches for but never finds. He has found satisfaction and rest in his soul.”

LORD, I know you are compassionate, loving and giving. I know too, that I am here to serve YOU, not the visa versa. Show me the way, LORD; walk with me and keep me strong in faith, love and self-control. To YOU I give the praise. In JESUS name I pray, Amen.